Here are some of the top stories you may have missed this weekend.
Students at UNG taking action to encourage classmates to vote
As the number of Georgia early votes passes 2.7 million, students at the University of North Georgia are taking action to encourage classmates to vote in the upcoming elections.
UNG alumnus and graduate student Mark Ginter has been leading the effort. After securing a grant from the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, Ginter and other students formed the Voice of the Emancipated (VOTE) club on campus and have sponsored several events to encourage voter registration and educate students on political issues. READ MORE
Extra lanes planned for busy Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville, GDOT taking comments
The Georgia Department of Transportation is planning to construct two additional lanes on a portion of Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville to ease congestion.
GDOT spokeswoman Katie Strickland said that the project will involve the construction of an additional lane both northbound and southbound on SR 53, more commonly known as Dawsonville Highway, between Shallowford Road and Ahaluna Drive. This addition will give motorists three travel lanes in both directions for the .84-mile stretch.
The GDOT is taking comments on the proposed project on its website through Nov. 8. READ MORE
Da Vinci Academy now accepting applications for rising sixth-graders
The Hall County School District’s Da Vinci Academy is accepting applications for rising sixth-graders for the 2021-22 school year through Dec. 2.
DVA is part of the Academies of Discovery at South Hall and is a program of choice designed for students interested in the arts, sciences and technology. Any current fifth-grade student is eligible to apply.
Parent information meetings will be held on Zoom throughout the week for interested families. READ MORE
Humane Society of Northeast Georgia to host spooky adoption event
The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia will host a Halloween-themed adoption event on Friday, Oct. 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. called All Howls Eve.
Adoption fees for adult dogs and cats will be discounted and there will be free Halloween festivities, including pumpkin making crafts and trick-or-treating for kids and pups.
Due to COVID-19, face masks will be required and attendees will be encouraged to practice social distancing and use hand sanitizer. READ MORE
Gainesville, Hall County schools both work to shore up substitute teacher pool
Both the Gainesville City School System and the Hall County School District are working to keep their substitute teacher pools viable amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gainesville City School System Superintendent Jeremy Williams said that the city is hoping to keep the substitutes they have and attract others by offering bonuses to subs who work multiple days per month. The Hall County School District has not yet implemented a monetary plan to attract more substitutes but has been working to develop a pool of priority substitutes who have experience working in the school system. READ MORE
