DAHLONEGA, Ga. – As if the injuries and trauma that often accompany an automobile accident aren’t bad enough, a Fox 5 I-Team Investigation this week revealed that Lumpkin County officials have knowingly double billed for accident cleanup for years. Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner Ralph Hudgens told Fox 5 News that insurance providers […]
Read More »Lumpkin Co. Lady Indians Honor America’s Veterans
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — As Lumpkin County’s varsity and junior varsity softball teams wind down the regular season and prepare for tournament play, they paused in between games against West Hall Wednesday to honor America’s veterans and raise funds for the nation’s wounded warriors. Each year, the Lady Indians select a worthy charity. This year the […]
Read More »Committee Searches for Ways to Bring Broadband Internet to Rural Georgia
TOCCOA, Ga. – A joint study committee made up of 10 members of the Georgia House and Senate is on a fact-finding mission to find out how to bring high-speed broadband Internet to the rural areas of Georgia. The Joint High-Speed Broadband Communications Access for all Georgians Study Committee held the second in a […]
Read More »County Holds Public Hearing on New Budget
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners held the first of three public hearings on the proposed 2017 budget of $20.6 million Tuesday. Commissioners have tentatively adopted a millage rate of 12.180. The proposed increase for a home with a fair market value of $175,000 is approximately $103.84. If the new budget […]
Read More »City Council Holds Hearings on Millage Increase
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The Dahlonega City Council held its first two public hearings on a proposed one mil increase to 6.781 to support the Fiscal Year 2017 budget Tuesday. The increase is 17.26 percent over the rollback millage rate. Council held a morning and evening session. There were no public speakers at the meeting. In […]
Read More »Broadband Study Committee Meets in Toccoa
TOCCOA, Ga. – A study committee headed by State Senators John Wilkinson (R-Cornelia), Don Parsons (R-Marietta) and Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) will examine the conditions, needs, issues and problems of high-speed broadband internet access critical to the economic development of Georgia’s communities Thursday. Public participation is encouraged at the meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. at North […]
Read More »Commissioners Discuss Taxes, Road Improvement During Work Session
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners discussed a wide range of issues during Tuesday’s work session, including the Fiscal Year 2017 budget and millage rate and funding for the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) road program. District 4 Commissioner Bob Pullen said it might be worthwhile for commissioners to consider hiring […]
Read More »Jury Finds Coroner Guilty
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Sources tell Fetch Your News that a Superior Court jury found Lumpkin County Coroner Ronald Fortner guilty of theft by deception and violation of his oath of office Friday evening. Fortner has been sentenced to 15 years with three to serve in jail and 12 years on probation. He will have to […]
Read More »School Superintendent Opposes State Takeover of Public Schools
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Georgia voters will decide in November if they would like to maintain local control of “low performing” public schools or place them in state-run system for up to 10 years. Gov. Nathan Deal’s Opportunity School District (OSD) would enable a state takeover of public schools that score below 60 on the Georgia […]
Read More »One Killed, 4 Injured in White County Wreck
CLEVELAND, Ga. — A one-year-old child was killed and four other people injured in a midday crash on the Appalachian Parkway in Cleveland Monday. Aubrey Papa, of Dahlonega, died of injuries suffered in the collision and 4-year-old Annalise Papa, also of Dahlonega, was air lifted to an Atlanta hospital. The accident occurred when a 2005 […]
Read More »Fortner Case Goes to the Jury
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Both sides delivered closing arguments Friday in the case of Lumpkin County Coroner Ronald Fortner who is charged with 18 counts of felony theft by deception, 18 counts of misdemeanor theft by deception and violation of oath of office. On Thursday, defense attorney Jeff Wolff moved for a directed verdict of acquittal […]
Read More »Fortner Trial Continues Friday
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The state rested Thursday in its case against Lumpkin County Coroner Ronald Fortner who is charged with 18 felony counts of felony theft by deception, 18 counts of misdemeanor theft by deception and violation of oath of office. Enotah Judicial District Attorney Jeff Langley called Lee Croxton, a former instructor of coroners […]
Read More »Opening of New Ga. 400 Lane Delayed
CUMMING — Commuters from Atlanta to Dawson, White and Lumpkin counties will have to wait a little longer for the third northbound lane of Ga. 400 to open. Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) officials, who expected to have the new lane between McFarland Parkway (Exit 12) and Peachtree Parkway (Exit 13) finished by September, now […]
Read More »County’s Private Probation Company Accused of Threats and Intimidation
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Lumpkin County residents beware! Break the law – even a minor traffic violation like an expired tag — and you could find yourself at the mercy of Sentinel Offender Services, a private, for-profit, misdemeanor probation company that provides probation services to Lumpkin and White County counties. Sentinel has been sued more than […]
Read More »Lumpkin County Coroner Goes on Trial
DAHLONEGA, Ga. –Day 1 in the trial of Lumpkin County Coroner Ronald Fortner on charges of theft by deception and violation of oath of office started Wednesday and was dominated by the testimony of Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Amanda Duttry and two audio recordings she made in 2013 while interviewing the defendant at […]
Read More »Northeast Georgia Health System to Open Dahlonega Urgent Care Center
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – State Senator Steve Gooch brought welcome news to the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday evening. Northeast Georgia Health System will open an Urgent Care center in Dahlonega early next year. The facility will be located in the Home Depot Shopping Center on Longbranch Road at the corner of Ga. […]
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