Here are our top five stories from the weekend you may have missed:
-
No one was injured in residential fire in Gillsville
No one was injured in a residential fire Friday afternoon on the 4300 block of Joe Chandler Road in Gillsville.
Hall County Fire Rescue units responded to a fire around 3 p.m. On arrival, they found the attic on fire with smoke showing.
No injuries were reported from the scene. The American Red Cross was notified for the displaced residents.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Read More.
-
Piedmont selects former Florida University System chancellor as next president
Piedmont University in Demorest will have a new president effective Jan. 1.
Former Florida University System Chancellor Marshall Criser will replace retiring President James F. Mellichamp, who has served as president for the last decade.
Criser is also a former president of AT&T Florida.
Criser recently stepped down as chancellor of the State University System of Florida, a post he held for eight years. As chancellor, he served on the Florida Talent Development Council and the Credential Review Committee.
He currently serves as a member of the Florida Council of 100, where he is a former chair. He is also a member of the Enterprise Florida Board, the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, co-chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Past Chairs Council, and the Florida Chamber 2025 Strategic Planning Committee. Read More
-
Friday afternoon fire destroys Buford home
No one was hurt, but a man and woman were displaced after their home caught fire Friday afternoon in Buford.
The residential fire happened in the 5700 block of Avonley Creek Drive NE at about 12:54 p.m. One neighbor who called 911 was concerned for the homeowner’s safety. The caller said the homeowner worked at night, and they had not seen him escape.
Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services arrived at the scene at 1 p.m. and found the two-story home with heavy fire showing. While some crews deployed a handline to perform a rapid search for the homeowner, the remaining crews deployed ground ladders to search windows for victims.
A ladder truck knocked down the bulk of the flame, while firefighters continued to extinguish hot spots.
While firefighters contained the fire, the homeowner was spotted on the sidewalk with his wife. He confirmed that the house was vacant.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Read More.
-
Clarkesville Police: Man jumped to his death Friday in Soque River
Clarkesville police say a Demorest man jumped to his death Friday night from the bridge on Highway 197 North near Pitts Park.
Clarkesville Police Chief Brad Barrett said preliminary investigation indicates the man was in the midst of a mental health crisis and, as a result, made the decision to enter the water on his own accord about 6:30 p.m.
The individual was located in the water some 200 yards downstream from the bridge and despite resuscitative efforts the man died at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Read More.
-
City of Winder awarded $300k Transportation Improvement Planning Grant
The City of Winder was awarded a $300,000 Transportation Improvement Plan grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission last month.
According to a press release, approximately $250,000 of these funds will be used for a consultant to conduct a citywide transportation study and needs analysis.
The remainder of the funds will assist the City to redesign and add a roundabout and pedestrian enhancements to the intersection of E. Athens Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and East Midland Avenue.
After funding is made available in the fiscal year 2024, the City can begin the bidding process. Read More.
