Many are thankful this year

Kindergartners at Black Mill's Elementary began celebrating Thanksgiving on Friday with a holiday feast of plenty. Rolling up their tiny sleeves and placing their napkins in their laps, the 5- and 6-year-olds took turns around the table saying what they were thankful for.

Santa arrives in style

Instead of traveling with elves by sleigh, Santa arrived in Dawsonville on Sunday with smiling men and women dressed in leather jackets and riding motorcycles. The 21st annual Buck Jones Memorial Toy Run saw one of its largest turnouts this year. Dawsonville was waiting with open arms and trays of food for the hungry procession at the second of its three stops.

5 hurt in head-on collision

A head-on collision on Dawsonville Hwy. near the Dawson-Forsyth County line last week injured five, including three children. "One of the children was in critical condition," said Billy Thurmond, Dawson County Emergency Services director.

Local theater group nominated for awards

In its inaugural venture into adult musical theater, the Dawson County Arts Council's recent summer hit "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" received four nominations in the 2012 Broadway World Atlanta awards for non-professional musicals. The nominations include: Russ Ivey, best actor; Heatherly Wanamaker Nelson, best actress; Jamie Fambrough, best director; and best musical.

Honoring service

Servicemen and women of all ages and from each branch of the military shared the spotlight Saturday during Dawsonville's Veterans Day celebration. In its eighth year, the ceremonies began with a formal tribute to veterans at Dawson County Middle School, followed by a parade through downtown Dawsonville. Vietnam veterans served as the grand-marshals.

Annual ride collects toys for Christmas

Santa and a couple hundred of his elves are expected in Dawsonville Sunday for the 21st annual Buck Jones Memorial Toy Run. The event, organized by Bikers Dream of Atlanta, collects toys at stops from Cumming to Dahlonega to help organizations provide Christmas presents for children in need.

Church celebrates second anniversary

Grace Presbyterian Church in downtown Dawsonville will celebrate its second anniversary on Sunday with a special Kirking of the Tartans service during morning worship at 11 a.m. The first Presbyterian church in Dawson County, Grace was constituted as an official congregation on Nov. 21, 2010, with founding pastor the late Mark Weaver.

Community invited to free Thanksgiving dinner

The local Alliance of Churches is expecting several hundred guests for the annual community Thanksgiving feast at the Lakeview Center next week. The feast of turkey and all the trimmings, including a variety of desserts, will be served by volunteers from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the center, at 2057 Dawson Forest Road.

Veterans Day ceremony Saturday

Capt. Benny Thomas Stowers had been overseas less than six months when the plane he was piloting crashed in May 1966. "They notified us about the very next day, but it took a week or so before we got his body, because they couldn't find him," said his wife, Hazel Stowers.

Annual ceremony pays tribute to veterans

Veterans of all ages and each military branch will be honored Nov. 10 during Dawsonville's eighth annual Veterans Day celebration. Formal ceremonies will be held at 1:45 p.m. in the gym at the Dawson County Middle School, followed by a parade through downtown Dawsonville that begins at 3 p.m.

Ghosts and goblins on the prowl tonight

The Dawson County Sheriff's Office is urging drivers to watch out for ghosts, goblins and princesses on the prowl for tricks and treats this evening. While Dawson County doesn't designate when trick-or-treaters can go door to door, kids are expected to hit the streets as early as 4 to 4:30 p.m. for the annual Halloween ritual.

‘Best festival we’ve ever had’

An estimated 100,000 visitors roared into town over the weekend to celebrate Dawsonville's high octane heritage of moonshine and fast cars. Organizers are calling the 45th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival "the best festival we've ever had."

1 killed in motorcycle wreck

Authorities are citing speed as a factor in the fatal motorcycle wreck that killed a South Carolina man Saturday on Cothran Road. Mark Harmon, 50, of Aiken, S.C. died at the scene after losing control of his 2006 Victory motorcycle in a curve, authorities said. Robin Stone, spokeswoman with the Georgia State Patrol, said Harmon was attempting to negotiate a curve "at a rate of speed that was too fast for conditions" when he was ...

Hall of fame induction ceremony is Friday

Volunteers are counting on a packed house for Friday night's Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. Announced earlier this year, the 2012 class of inductees are Pete Hamilton, Bill Ingram, Warren Johnson, Doug Kenimer and Herman Wise. The men were nominated for their contributions to Georgia's motorsport's heritage.

Expect traffic delays during the weekend

With thousands of visitors descending on Dawsonville this weekend for the 45th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival, local authorities are encouraging motorists to plan their routes and avoid the downtown area if not attending the festival. "We've made several changes in road closures for this year's festival," said Greg Rowan, with the Dawson County Sheriff's Office.

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."