‘Fill the Boot’ drive set for this weekend

Personnel from Dawson County Emergency Services will be heading to the streets Aug. 27-29 as they team up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association to "fill the boot."

Attorney to chair committee

Local attorney Clint Bearden was appointed last week to chair the Legislative Affairs Committee for Georgia's 9th District Republican Party.

That dog’ll hunt

A year after he went raccoon hunting for the first time, a 13-year-old Dawson County boy is winning state awards for his new hobby.

Club moves forward

An information-gathering meeting last Thursday brought together almost two dozen volunteers interested in forming an Optimist Club in Dawson County.

Eating breakfast, solving problems

They talk about politics, the weather, their families and anything else that comes to mind.

Property tax seminar planned Saturday

An educational seminar on understanding property taxes is planned for Saturday morning at the Appalachian Community Bank Conference Center in downtown Dawsonville.

‘Road to Recovery’ provides transportation

Cancer patients receiving treatment at a nearby hospital or medical facility will soon have access to free transportation to and from their treatment site, with the help of efforts towards establishing an initiative of a national program in Dawson County, known as Road to Recovery.

Blaze destroys two-story cabin

Officials say lightning may be to blame for a fire Thursday that destroyed a log cabin in western Dawson County.

Facility combines two agencies

The more than 400 Hall and Dawson county children suspected as victims of physical or sexual abuse this year can now undergo medical evaluations in a welcoming new building accented with flowers and toys.

Optimist Club brings ‘out the best in kids’

Optimists Clubs are known throughout the world for "Bringing Out the Best in Kids."

Missing Dawsonville child found by rescuers

About 200 rescuers spent hours this weekend searching for a Dawsonville child who, when found, had strayed maybe 200 or 300 yards from the family camp site.

DNR assists bear in a pickle jar

A bear with a plastic pickle bucket on his head had been wandering the area since early June but was recently caught, "de-bucketed" and released again by Department of Natural Resources officials.

Welcoming home a hero

Michael Neighbours said he couldn't have made it through a recent yearlong tour of duty in Afghanistan without the support of his family and the Dawson County community.

Homecoming fit for a hero

Dawsonville will welcome back one of its own Friday afternoon in a celebration fit for a hero.

Dawsonville farmer grows giant tomato

It's not the biggest he's ever grown, but the 2.75- pound tomato Kenneth Allison plucked from his garden on New Hope Road is one of the biggest local Extension Agent Clark Beusse has seen this season.

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."