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Parents and students at Tesnatee Gap Elementary School line up for the first day Aug. 14 in accordance with social distancing guidelines. (File photo/Stephanie Hill)

Parents and students at Tesnatee Gap Elementary School line up for the first day Aug. 14 in accordance with social distancing guidelines. (File photo/Stephanie Hill)

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School system reports on first COVID-19 cases

Stephanie Hill
Thursday, August 27, 2020
The White County School System has provided its first two weekly COVID-19 status report since classes resumed this month. In an Aug. 26 update, the school system said there were four students who reported positive for COVID-19 and 46 students quarantined for possible exposure at that time.
Cleveland will receive a $12.6 million loan from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

Cleveland will receive a $12.6 million loan from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

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Cleveland receives loan for wastewater treatment

Stephanie Hill
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Cleveland will receive a $12.6 million loan from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The plant expansion will allow it to become a 1.5 million gallons per day facility, according to the Aug. 25 announcement from GEFA.
Some White County employees will be getting a hazard pay supplement for work during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the county will be reimbursed for roughly $1.3 million in public safety salaries.

Some White County employees will be getting a hazard pay supplement for work during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the county will be reimbursed for roughly $1.3 million in public safety salaries.

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County approves pandemic hazard pay

Wayne Hardy
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Some White County employees will be getting a hazard pay supplement for work during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the county will be reimbursed for roughly $1.3 million in public safety salaries. The county Board of Commissioners approved lump sum hazard payments ranging from $250 to $750 at an Aug.
There have been 441 total confirmed COVID-19 cases in White County since the start of the pandemic, according to the update  on Sunday, Aug. 23, on the Georgia Department of Public Health's website.

There have been 441 total confirmed COVID-19 cases in White County since the start of the pandemic, according to the update  on Sunday, Aug. 23, on the Georgia Department of Public Health's website.

County's total confirmed cases since start of COVID-19 pandemic reaches 441

News Staff
Monday, August 24, 2020
There have been 441 total confirmed COVID-19 cases in White County since the start of the pandemic, according to the update  on Sunday, Aug. 23, on the Georgia Department of Public Health's website. In White County there have been 67 hospitalizations and nine deaths attributed to COVID-19.
Chief, Little Foot, and Troy

Chief, Little Foot, and Troy

Pets of the Week: Aug. 24

News Staff
Monday, August 24, 2020
Pets of the week for the week of Aug. 24 from White County Animal Control and Charles Smithgall Humane Society. These three cream-colored boys are about five months old. Chief, Little Foot, and Troy are super playful kittens who would do wonderful in a home with other cats to play with!
Authorities responded to a call about residential fire on Peaceful Valley Drive on Thursday, Aug. 20.

Authorities responded to a call about residential fire on Peaceful Valley Drive on Thursday, Aug. 20.

Authorities respond to residential fire

Stephanie Hill
Friday, August 21, 2020
Authorities responded to a call about residential fire on Peaceful Valley Drive on Thursday, Aug. 20. According to White County Public Safety Director David Murphy, White County 911 received a call at approximately 10:10 p.m. about a possible fire at the residence.
With only a few weeks until the start of the Oktoberfest season, Helen businesses and city officials are busy planning for the weeks long event

With only a few weeks until the start of the Oktoberfest season, Helen businesses and city officials are busy planning for the weeks long event

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City talks plans, new events for Oktoberfest

Stephanie Hill
Thursday, August 20, 2020
With only a few weeks until the start of the Oktoberfest season, Helen businesses and city officials are busy planning for the weeks long event Celebrations will be different than previous years because of the coronavirus.
Pictured from left, are volunteers Kathy Godfrey, Virginia Edwards, Debbie Spitzer (store manager), Karen Degges and Susan Alexander at Rescue Re-Tail, a new thrift store benefitting the Charles Smithgall Humane Society. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)

Pictured from left, are volunteers Kathy Godfrey, Virginia Edwards, Debbie Spitzer (store manager), Karen Degges and Susan Alexander at Rescue Re-Tail, a new thrift store benefitting the Charles Smithgall Humane Society. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)

Rescue Re-Tail store set to aid animals

Stephanie Hill
Thursday, August 20, 2020
A new thrift store in White County is all about the animals. Rescue Re-Tail, which benefits the Charles Smithgall Humane Society, opened Thursday, Aug. 13. The store emerged after the organization was unable to hold its yearly yard sale fundraiser because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The city of Cleveland will be joining other Georgia municipalities in receiving COVID-19 grant funding through the CARES Act.

The city of Cleveland will be joining other Georgia municipalities in receiving COVID-19 grant funding through the CARES Act.

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Cleveland approves COVID-19 relief funding

Stephanie Hill
Thursday, August 20, 2020
The city of Cleveland will be joining other Georgia municipalities in receiving COVID-19 grant funding through the CARES Act. Approval of the resolution came during a called meeting on Monday, Aug. 17, after the Cleveland City Council previously tabled the topic for further study.