BALDWIN, Ga. — A Cleveland man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Ga. 365 in Baldwin shortly after 8 p.m. Friday. According to a report by the Georgia State Patrol, Jonathan Kelley, 25, of Cleveland, died when the 2010 Nissan Altima he was driving pulled across Ga. 365 from Wilbanks Road and was struck […]
Read More »Helen City Council to Amend Land Development, Alcohol Ordinances
HELEN, Ga. – The City of Helen will hold a first reading of two ordinances and listen to complaints against a local lodging facility when it meets Tuesday at 3 p.m. at City Hall. Council members will read an ordinance to amend the official code of the City of Helen, relating to Chapter 34 of […]
Read More »Commissioners Borrow from Fund Balance to Erase a $1.06 Million Budget Shortfall
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Shocked by a tax digest that produced only slightly more revenue than it did a year ago and faced with a budget shortfall of $1.06 million, the White County Board of Commissioners elected to keep the millage rate at 9.998 mils, essentially kicking the can down the road for another year when […]
Read More »Mossy Creek Golf Tourney Set July 28
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Freudenburg-NOK, a leading specialist in sealing applications, has agreed to be the title sponsor of the annual Swing for the Hills Golf Tournament at Mossy Creek Golf Course on Friday, July 28. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. Tournament play will be a three-person Lauderdale format, and teams […]
Read More »Cleveland Woman Arrested After She Left Infant Unattended in Parked Car at Walmart
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Cleveland police arrested 24-year-old Brelyn Dover Thursday after she left a 1-year old child unattended in a hot car in the Walmart parking lot a day earlier. A witness observed the child and called 9-1-1. When Cleveland police arrived, they got the child out of the car. He was checked by medical […]
Read More »Helen Preparing for European Car Event
HELEN, Ga. – SoWhat, a spinoff from the Southern Worthersee (SoWo) group that set a record for the largest crowd in White County but spawned violence, property damage and traffic problems in Helen two years ago will visit the Alpine Village for four days starting Thursday. In 2015, a tow truck driver was trapped inside […]
Read More »Three People Injured in Single Vehicle Crash
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Three people were injured in a single-vehicle accident on State Route 75 in White County about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. According to the accident report, the driver, 70-year old Donald J. Pass of Universal City, Texas, was driving north on Hulsey Road near the intersection of Raby Drive when his 2011 Lincoln failed […]
Read More »An Angry Board of Commissioners Rejects Bids on Road Rehabilitation Projects
CLEVELAND, Ga. – When four contractors submitted bids for rehabilitation projects on Town Creek Road and two bridges on New Bridge Road, that were nearly triple what they had anticipated based on engineering estimates, White County Commissioners expressed their anger and unanimously rejected all four Monday. County Manager Michael Melton said the lowest bid came […]
Read More »Motorcycle Chase in White, Habersham Ends in Arrest for Flowery Branch Man
CLEVELAND, Ga. – A 31-year-old Flowery Branch man on a stolen motorcycle led White and Habersham County deputies on a chase last week that reached speeds of up to 100 mph before he was taken into custody. A White County deputy spotted Zachary Dean Smith on a blue and silver 2007 Honda motorcycle on Highway […]
Read More »Helen Man Dies in Cleveland Traffic Accident
CLEVELAND — James Henry Schmitt, 73, of Helen, died as a result of injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle accident in the pre-dawn hours Thursday. According to a White County Sheriff’s Office report, the accident happened when Schmitt’s 1995 Nissan pickup truck ran off Asbestos Road near Dukes Creek Baptist Church, struck a tree and […]
Read More »Disabled Vet Makes Powerful Plea For Helen Arts and Heritage Center
HELEN, Ga. — When you think about the Helen Arts and Heritage Center, you don’t think about the good work its volunteers perform for the veterans of Helen and White County and how much it means to them. But that is only because you haven’t met William Reed, a disabled veteran who served 18 years […]
Read More »Firefighters Battle Blaze on Mount Pleasant
CLEVELAND, Ga. — White County and the City of Cleveland firefighters were called on to battle a residential blaze on Mount Pleasant Road in northern White County around 10:45 a.m. on Sunday. When the first units arrived, flames were visible on the front portion of the home. All occupants were outside. Firefighters quickly set up […]
Read More »Helen Police Arrest Gainesville Woman, Seize $14,000 in Meth in Local Motel
HELEN, Ga. –Tammy Kay Leonard, 47, of Gainesville was arrested at a motel room in Helen Wednesday and charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug related objects. Acting on a tip, the Helen Police Department obtained a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of more than five ounces of methamphetamine with a […]
Read More »Driver Escapes Serious Injury Following Accident
CLEVELAND, Ga. — An unidentified Cleveland man escaped serious injury Friday when he pulled into a private driveway off Campbell street. As he started to exit the vehicle it began to roll, knocking him down. Cleveland Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt said the vehicle then rolled across Campbell Street through the yard next to Glenda’s Restaurant […]
Read More »White Co School Board Meets Thursday
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Education will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Cliff H. Hood Administrative Board Room, 136 Warriors Path, Suite 608. Octavius Mulligan, John Osborne, Alan Griffin and Laurie Burkett will present special reports. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson will provide budget and building updates and […]
Read More »City Reviews List of Projects Planned in 2017
HELEN, Ga. — City Manager Jerry Elkins presented a review of the projects planned for the City of Helen at Tueaday’s City Commission meeting. The five biggest projects come with a total price tag of about $1,578,350. The city will be responsible for approximately $925,000. The remainder will be funded by various grants. The Main […]
Read More »