Jerry Gunn

Some north Gainesville homeowners convinced Mayor Ruth Bruner to side with them at Tuesday night's city council meeting in a contested rezoning to allow the location of a Taco Bell drive-thru restaurant in the 1400 block of Thompson bridge Road, but she cast the only no vote.

Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra returned to Gainesville Monday for a hometown Independence Day BBQ and celebration.

On a motion from Commissioner Scott Gibbs, he and three other commissioners voted for a compromise budget that still cuts employees and departments but buys time for parks and recreation, and cuts the community services center by $120,000.

Hall County Commissioners heard from the

Hall County Parks and Leisure Board members left their called meeting Monday afternoon not sure if there would be a July meeting. It all hinges on how county commissioners vote on the 2012 budget on Thursday.

Gainesville Hall County

Thirty-two Hall County employees get pink slips Friday, a week before Hall Commissioners make a final decision on their controversial 2012 budget. The cuts could also affect services such as pauper funerals.

Seventy-two illegal drug and gang suspects were the target of arrest warrants Thursday morning in a round-up by multi agency narcotics squad officers assisted by Hall Sheriff

The 2011 Job Fair and Career Expo hosted by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce drew hundreds of job seekers to the Georgia Mountains Center Wednesday in downtown Gainesville.

Hall County Commissioners looked at new revenue sources Tuesday during their work session and that could include cutting funding for Red Rabbit transit and the community center in Gainesville.