ABOVE: The parking lot of the Anne Green Free Clinic at 75 Rockhouse Road stays filled with patient vehicles during opening hours. BELOW: Dr. Gene Westmoreland, Medical Director at Community Helping Place’s Anne Green Free Clinic, performs a quick check-up on Khushi Manchanda in one of the clinic’s exam rooms.

ABOVE: The parking lot of the Anne Green Free Clinic at 75 Rockhouse Road stays filled with patient vehicles during opening hours. BELOW: Dr. Gene Westmoreland, Medical Director at Community Helping Place’s Anne Green Free Clinic, performs a quick check-up on Khushi Manchanda in one of the clinic’s exam rooms.

CHP tomato sandwich fundraiser will support free clinic

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

July is officially here, and the season is “ripe” for a delicious fundraiser that brings home the bacon each year: Community Helping Place’s Tomato Sandwich Supper.

Local

Last Wednesday, representatives of the Vernon Jones campaign for Secretary of State filed a written request for a hand recount of the June 16 runoff election in Lumpkin County, citing unspecified “irregularities.” By Monday, that request had been formally withdrawn.

Last Wednesday, representatives of the Vernon Jones campaign for Secretary of State filed a written request for a hand recount of the June 16 runoff election in Lumpkin County, citing unspecified “irregularities.” By Monday, that request had been formally withdrawn.

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Vote recount request withdrawn by candidate

Keith Murden
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
The campaign of Secretary of State candidate Vernon Jones filed a number of requests for hand...
Recent improvements on the private property located at Castleberry Bridge include a renovated “beach” area featuring picnic tables and paid tube rentals.

Recent improvements on the private property located at Castleberry Bridge include a renovated “beach” area featuring picnic tables and paid tube rentals.

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River rights debate continues over Etowah park

Keith Murden
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
A tug-of-war between private property rights and recreational use of Georgia’s waterways continues...
The Nugget has included a special section in this week’s print edition and the E-edition to recognize local First Responders.

The Nugget has included a special section in this week’s print edition and the E-edition to recognize local First Responders.

Exclusive Content

Special section recognizes local First Responders

News Staff
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
In this week’s special section we salute the brave men and women who work every day to keep...
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Op/Ed

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Sports

Pictured, from left, Ellie Moye, Abigail Herrit, Amelia Turk and Madison Barrick celebrate their finishes after facing off in a recent race.

Pictured, from left, Ellie Moye, Abigail Herrit, Amelia Turk and Madison Barrick celebrate their finishes after facing off in a recent race.

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Parks & Rec swim team sends 19 athletes to State

Eligha Roper
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
The Lumpkin County Parks & Rec swim team hosted a home meet last week, drawing a packed crowd and a...
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Regional

Jonathon, Sarah, and Jonathon Barge Jr., who goes by “J,” are all smiles having learned that Jonathon Barge won the Winter 2022 Lake Living cover contest for the picture of “J” in the family’s 1972 Alumacraft fishing boat “catching snowflakes instead of fish” on Lake Burton in January 2022. Enoch Autry, publisher of The Clayton Tribune in Rabun County, right, hands the family the $100 prize for winning the contest. (Photo by Megan Broome)

Jonathon, Sarah, and Jonathon Barge Jr., who goes by “J,” are all smiles having learned that Jonathon Barge won the Winter 2022 Lake Living cover contest for the picture of “J” in the family’s 1972 Alumacraft fishing boat “catching snowflakes instead of fish” on Lake Burton in January 2022. Enoch Autry, publisher of The Clayton Tribune in Rabun County, right, hands the family the $100 prize for winning the contest. (Photo by Megan Broome)

Snowflakes instead of fish leads to Lake Living Winter 2022 cover

News Staff
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
By Megan Broome / CNI News Service  ---------------  Northeast Georgia offers many picture-perfect...
Cornelia resident Donna Shirley receives her $100 prize money from Alan NeSmith, Community Newspapers Inc. chairman. Shirley’s photograph of the double waterfalls that make up Anna Ruby Falls graces the cover of the 2023 summer edition of The Mountain Traveler magazine. (Photo/Kimberly Brown)

Cornelia resident Donna Shirley receives her $100 prize money from Alan NeSmith, Community Newspapers Inc. chairman. Shirley’s photograph of the double waterfalls that make up Anna Ruby Falls graces the cover of the 2023 summer edition of The Mountain Traveler magazine. (Photo/Kimberly Brown)

Chasing waterfalls leads to winning Mountain Traveler cover photo

News Staff
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
By Kimberly Brown  ----------  One of the things Donna Shirley of Cornelia loves most is traveling...
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ABOVE: The parking lot of the Anne Green Free Clinic at 75 Rockhouse Road stays filled with patient vehicles during opening hours. BELOW: Dr. Gene Westmoreland, Medical Director at Community Helping Place’s Anne Green Free Clinic, performs a quick check-up on Khushi Manchanda in one of the clinic’s exam rooms.

ABOVE: The parking lot of the Anne Green Free Clinic at 75 Rockhouse Road stays filled with patient vehicles during opening hours. BELOW: Dr. Gene Westmoreland, Medical Director at Community Helping Place’s Anne Green Free Clinic, performs a quick check-up on Khushi Manchanda in one of the clinic’s exam rooms.

CHP tomato sandwich fundraiser will support free clinic

Keith Murden
July is officially here, and the season is “ripe” for a delicious fundraiser that brings home the bacon each year: Community Helping Place’s Tomato Sandwich Supper.Believe it or not, this is the 19th iteration of the popular annual event, which fosters fellowship while raising critical operating…
Last Wednesday, representatives of the Vernon Jones campaign for Secretary of State filed a written request for a hand recount of the June 16 runoff election in Lumpkin County, citing unspecified “irregularities.” By Monday, that request had been formally withdrawn.

Last Wednesday, representatives of the Vernon Jones campaign for Secretary of State filed a written request for a hand recount of the June 16 runoff election in Lumpkin County, citing unspecified “irregularities.” By Monday, that request had been formally withdrawn.

Vote recount request withdrawn by candidate

Keith Murden
The campaign of Secretary of State candidate Vernon Jones filed a number of requests for hand recounts in the state following the recent General Primary Runoff election.One of the counties hit with that petition was Lumpkin. “We are formally requesting a recount by hand of all ballots for the…
The Lumpkin County 8U baseball team celebrates with its State Championship trophy.

The Lumpkin County 8U baseball team celebrates with its State Championship trophy.

8U baseball team dominates State Championships

Eligha Roper
The Lumpkin County 8U Parks & Rec All Stars didn’t just defend their State Championship last week. They bulldozed their way through the bracket with scores that looked more like Friday night football than youth baseball. Brantley County fell 23-1, Morgan County 10-2 and Morgan County Black 17-4…
Pictured, from left, Ellie Moye, Abigail Herrit, Amelia Turk and Madison Barrick celebrate their finishes after facing off in a recent race.

Pictured, from left, Ellie Moye, Abigail Herrit, Amelia Turk and Madison Barrick celebrate their finishes after facing off in a recent race.

Parks & Rec swim team sends 19 athletes to State

Eligha Roper
The Lumpkin County Parks & Rec swim team hosted a home meet last week, drawing a packed crowd and a full slate of competitors. The event brought strong energy to the Pinetree pool and several local swimmers walked away with top finishes. Following the success of the home meet, the team took 22…
Recent improvements on the private property located at Castleberry Bridge include a renovated “beach” area featuring picnic tables and paid tube rentals.

Recent improvements on the private property located at Castleberry Bridge include a renovated “beach” area featuring picnic tables and paid tube rentals.

River rights debate continues over Etowah park

Keith Murden
A tug-of-war between private property rights and recreational use of Georgia’s waterways continues to play out across the state, with no clear winners in sight.The murky legal conditions have left north Georgia property owners unclear about the extent to which they can restrict access to local…
The Lumpkin 10U softball team gathers for a photo after finishing third in the State Championship Tournament.

The Lumpkin 10U softball team gathers for a photo after finishing third in the State Championship Tournament.

10U softball team takes third at State Tournament

Eligha Roper
Growth has been the defining theme for the Lady Indians’ 10U softball team, a group that turned early struggles into a postseason run worth celebrating. They opened their summer with a tough 1‑3 showing in their first tournament, but the girls responded with steady improvement. Their bats warmed up…
The Nugget has included a special section in this week’s print edition and the E-edition to recognize local First Responders.

The Nugget has included a special section in this week’s print edition and the E-edition to recognize local First Responders.

Special section recognizes local First Responders

News Staff
In this week’s special section we salute the brave men and women who work every day to keep Dahlonega and Lumpkin County safe and secure. The service of everyone at Lumpkin County Emergency Services, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, the Dahlonega Police Department, the Coroner’s Office, Camp…
Assistant Coach Jake Estenson directs young participants during the recent summer camp.

Assistant Coach Jake Estenson directs young participants during the recent summer camp.

Football summer camp gives kids chance to sharpen skills

Eligha Roper
As the summer months roll on so do the local Lumpkin County High School camps; last week the local football program saw the biggest turnout yet, as over 100 campers turned out for the three-day event. The camp created special opportunities for high school coaches, Parks & Rec coaches, varsity…
Members of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners, County staff and employees of the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office gathered last Wednesday to discuss priorities for the department’s FY’27 budget.

Members of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners, County staff and employees of the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office gathered last Wednesday to discuss priorities for the department’s FY’27 budget.

County budget requests considered by Commissioners

Keith Murden
An apparent shift in Georgia State Patrol policy has the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office scrambling for reinforcements; that was one of the more pressing department requests made during last Wednesday’s marathon six-and-a-half hour special work session of the Lumpkin County Board of…
Pictured, from left, Faith Jones, Scott DeGraff, Mathiel Mendoza and Natalie Mendoza represented Lumpkin with distinction at the Womens National Duals in Indiana.

Pictured, from left, Faith Jones, Scott DeGraff, Mathiel Mendoza and Natalie Mendoza represented Lumpkin with distinction at the Womens National Duals in Indiana.

Local wrestlers contribute to historic win for Team Georgia

Eligha Roper
Lumpkin County was well represented at the Womens National Duals, where three local wrestlers and Girls Head Coach Scott DeGraff helped power Team Georgia to its best overall finish in program history. Their impact stretched far beyond participation. They were key contributors in a week that showed…
An overturned off-road vehicle led to the recent drowning death of a Lawrenceville man at Iron Mountain Park, according to law enforcement reports.

An overturned off-road vehicle led to the recent drowning death of a Lawrenceville man at Iron Mountain Park, according to law enforcement reports.

Drowning reported at ATV park

Matt Aiken
An overturned off-road vehicle tumbled into a retention pond and resulted in the tragic drowning of a Lawrenceville man at Iron Mountain Park on a recent Saturday afternoon, according to officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.“Two people were on a rented UTV side-by-side,” said…