Michael Wheeler to be Hall Co. Extension director

UNDATED - Hall County has a new extension agent.

Michael Wheeler will succeed Billy Skaggs, who left the post in January to assume a position with the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Wheeler has served as the county extension agent for Gilmer County since 2002. He said he's ready for the faster pace of a more urban area.

"When you go from 35,000 folks to 180,000 or 190,000, your demand load does increase, so I think that's going to be the biggest challenge... but that's part of the appeal of Hall County," said Wheeler.

Wheeler said he was born and raised in Hall County and is looking forward to coming back to his hometown.

Officials with the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension said Wheeler will assume the post April 1.