Marilyn Martin and her husband Stephen Martin, not pictured, own Farmhouse Coffee in Cleveland. The coffee shop will open its larger space on Friday, June 12. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

Marilyn Martin and her husband Stephen Martin, not pictured, own Farmhouse Coffee in Cleveland. The coffee shop will open its larger space on Friday, June 12. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

Farmhouse Coffee holds grand opening

By Denise Etheridge  Stephen and Marilyn Martin opened their first Farmhouse Coffee location on March 6, 2021, in a small end unit on the square in downtown Cleveland.
White County's Ansleigh Vandiver looks to make a pass during the Lady Warriors' game last week against Milton High School at the UNG Team Camp in Dahlonega. Vandiver hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the game to sudden death overtime, but Milton scored on the first possession of OT to take a 54-52 win.   MARK TURNER/WCN

White County's Ansleigh Vandiver looks to make a pass during the Lady Warriors' game last week against Milton High School at the UNG Team Camp in Dahlonega. Vandiver hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the game to sudden death overtime, but Milton scored on the first possession of OT to take a 54-52 win. MARK TURNER/WCN

Summer heating up for local athletes

by Mark TurnerWhite County News
Spectators and balloon crews gather in Helen for the 53rd annual Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival on June 4. Around 20 balloons are participating in events throughout the weekend. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Spectators and balloon crews gather in Helen for the 53rd annual Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival on June 4. Around 20 balloons are participating in events throughout the weekend. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Mike Meyer wins 53rd Helen to Atlantic Balloon Race

By Carly Henderson  
Marilyn Martin and her husband Stephen Martin, not pictured, own Farmhouse Coffee in Cleveland. The coffee shop will open its larger space on Friday, June 12. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

Marilyn Martin and her husband Stephen Martin, not pictured, own Farmhouse Coffee in Cleveland. The coffee shop will open its larger space on Friday, June 12. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

By Denise Etheridge  Stephen and Marilyn Martin opened their first Farmhouse Coffee location on March 6, 2021, in a small end unit on the square in downtown Cleveland. Now, after having opened additional locations in Gainesville, Demorest and Braselton, the pair has moved their Cleveland…
Noel Cochran

Noel Cochran

By Denise Etheridge Tesnatee Gap Elementary School principal Noel Cochran is leaving the White County School System to become North Hall Middle School's next principal. Cochran led TGAP for the past three years."I have loved my three years in White County Schools," Cochran said. "Tesnatee Gap…
Helen Police Chief Aletha Barrett

Helen Police Chief Aletha Barrett

By Carly Henderson The investigation into the accident involving Helen Police Chief Aletha Barrett and a pedestrian has been completed, with no charges recommended.On the evening of May 15, a trooper from the Gainesville Post responded to Helen to investigate a crash involving a Helen Police…
Motorists passing through on Highway 441 and visitors to the City of Dillard should use caution as there is ongoing road construction in the area. MEGAN HORN/CNI

Motorists passing through on Highway 441 and visitors to the City of Dillard should use caution as there is ongoing road construction in the area. MEGAN HORN/CNI

By Megan HornCNI News Service Anyone traveling on Highway 441 from Clayton to the North Carolina line can see that construction is ongoing for the Highway 441 widening project.Various areas of the highway are lined with orange safety barrels, construction equipment, workers and lane merge…
The WCMS Lady Warriors capped off a perfect season with a 4-1 win over Lumpkin County in the NGML title game.  JENNIFER KNIGHT/SPECIAL

The WCMS Lady Warriors capped off a perfect season with a 4-1 win over Lumpkin County in the NGML title game. JENNIFER KNIGHT/SPECIAL

byy Mark TurnerWhite County NewsWhile the spring season was a good one on the high school and college level, there were also some big moments in the middle school and youth sports scene as well.WCMS SoccerHeading into the 2026 season, the White County Middle School girl's soccer team hadn't won a…
 Julie Black, right, and Ellie Shelbnutt both finished as a state runner-up at the Class AAA state meet in May.  MARK TURNER/WCN

Julie Black, right, and Ellie Shelbnutt both finished as a state runner-up at the Class AAA state meet in May. MARK TURNER/WCN

by Mark TurnerWhite County NewsThe 2025-26 school year ended with with some big moments in the spring for a a group of athletes at White County High School and Truett McConnell University.WCHS TrackJulie Black capped off her high school running career with a runner-up finish at the Class AAA state…
White County's Ansleigh Vandiver looks to make a pass during the Lady Warriors' game last week against Milton High School at the UNG Team Camp in Dahlonega. Vandiver hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the game to sudden death overtime, but Milton scored on the first possession of OT to take a 54-52 win.   MARK TURNER/WCN

White County's Ansleigh Vandiver looks to make a pass during the Lady Warriors' game last week against Milton High School at the UNG Team Camp in Dahlonega. Vandiver hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the game to sudden death overtime, but Milton scored on the first possession of OT to take a 54-52 win. MARK TURNER/WCN

by Mark TurnerWhite County NewsThings are started to get busy around White County High School as multiple teams kicked off some summer work last week.The Warrior football team jumped right into the summer schedule with a 7-on-7 trip to Athens Academy, playing seven games during the event. This week…
The Cleveland City Council held a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget on June 4. From left are Council Members C.J. McDonald and Jeremy McClure, Mayor Josh Turner and Council Members Annie Sutton and Nan Bowen. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

The Cleveland City Council held a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget on June 4. From left are Council Members C.J. McDonald and Jeremy McClure, Mayor Josh Turner and Council Members Annie Sutton and Nan Bowen. DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

By Denise Etheridge Cleveland city officials prioritized public safety and employee retention last week during the first public hearing on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The budget presentation and discussion was held the morning of June 4. There were no comments from the…
Grand Re-Opening attendee Olivia Weideman tries out a land lottery simulator at the Sautee Nacoochee History Museum. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Grand Re-Opening attendee Olivia Weideman tries out a land lottery simulator at the Sautee Nacoochee History Museum. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

By Carly Henderson   The Sautee Nacoochee Center held a grand reopening of the Sautee Nacoochee History Museum on Saturday, June 6.After a nearly two-year renovation project, the History Museum reopened its doors for guests to see new additions and improvements to the exhibit.From 2…
From left are SNC’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” actors Elaina Bryant, Steven Glude, Melodie Spevack, Fletcher Nonnemaker, Josh Peck and Kiki Lee, shouting “Huzzah!” DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

From left are SNC’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” actors Elaina Bryant, Steven Glude, Melodie Spevack, Fletcher Nonnemaker, Josh Peck and Kiki Lee, shouting “Huzzah!” DENISE ETHERIDGE/WCN

SOLfest is set to transform the Sautee Nacoochee Center's 8.5-acre campus into an immersive artistic environment starting this weekend. SNC will present “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” returning after a  successful production last summer.Production organizers said that planning for this year's…
Sautee Nacoochee artist Angela Gilmore created “The Perfect Day” using her wedding dress and other materials from her previous marriage. Gilmore is currently competing in The People’s Artist competition supporting The Art of Elysium. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Sautee Nacoochee artist Angela Gilmore created “The Perfect Day” using her wedding dress and other materials from her previous marriage. Gilmore is currently competing in The People’s Artist competition supporting The Art of Elysium. SUBMITTED PHOTO

By Carly Henderson Sautee Nacoochee artist Angela Gilmore is currently competing in The People’s Artist competition, presented by actor Johnny Depp and supporting The Art of Elysium.The nationwide art contest, powered by Colossal, benefits The Art of Elysium, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that…
Spectators and balloon crews gather in Helen for the 53rd annual Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival on June 4. Around 20 balloons are participating in events throughout the weekend. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Spectators and balloon crews gather in Helen for the 53rd annual Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival on June 4. Around 20 balloons are participating in events throughout the weekend. CARLY HENDERSON/WCN

Mike Meyer wins 53rd Helen to Atlantic Balloon Race

By Carly Henderson  
White County's Ansleigh Vandiver looks to make a pass during the Lady Warriors' game last week against Milton High School at the UNG Team Camp in Dahlonega. Vandiver hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the game to sudden death overtime, but Milton scored on the first possession of OT to take a 54-52 win.   MARK TURNER/WCN

White County's Ansleigh Vandiver looks to make a pass during the Lady Warriors' game last week against Milton High School at the UNG Team Camp in Dahlonega. Vandiver hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the game to sudden death overtime, but Milton scored on the first possession of OT to take a 54-52 win. MARK TURNER/WCN

Summer heating up for local athletes

by Mark TurnerWhite County News