About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2022)
Your guide to Christmas events in Dawson, inside RIFLERY: Lee shoots perfect score in prone, leads Tigers in loss to Buford, sports, ib DawsonCountyNews WEDNESDAY I NOVEMBER 23, 2022 DaWSOflNeWS ^COITI DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA $2.00 State agency investigating fatal house fire By Julia Hansen jhansen@dawsonnews.com One state agency is now help ing investigate a fatal house fire in Dawson County, according to a Nov. 18 press release from Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King. On Nov. 15, Dawson County’s Fire and Emergency Services requested the State Fire Marshal’s Office to respond to a residential fire with one record ed fatality on Kelly Bridge Road, the press release said. Emergency crews responded to a structure fire at a house off of Kelly Bridge Road at about 1:30 that morning, said Fire and EMS Chief Troy Leist. “After the fire was put out, firefighters located the victim’s body in the ashes of the resi dence,” Commissioner King said in the Nov. 18 release. “The victim was removed from the scene and transported to the GBI Crime Lab to learn the vic tim’s identity and cause of death.” The 1,700-square foot-resi dence, which was around 72 years old, was completely destroyed by the fire. The fire’s cause remains under investiga tion at this time, the release stat ed. Authorities are still in the pro cess of positively identifying the victim, said Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson. DCN will update this story once more information can be publicly released. Christmas cheer comes to town Photos by Rio White Dawson County News Local businesses and organizations had the chance to display their creativity in the 2022 Dawsonville Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 19. City begins holiday season with parade, Jingle Market, tree lighting By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com On Saturday, Nov. 19, droves of peo ple from near and far came to downtown Dawsonville to watch the Christmas parade, shop in the Jingle Market and watch the tree lighting ceremony during the city’s 10th annual Christmas event. A wide variety of local organizations kicked off the day’s festivities at 4 p.m. with the annual parade through down town Dawsonville. After the parade was opened by a per formance of Christmas music by the Dawson County High School marching band, the many attendees lining the streets enjoyed dozens of creative and colorful floats put together by familiar faces in the area, such as the Rotary Club, several churches, youth sports groups and many more. As the parade traversed through down town, onto Highway 53 and toward City Hall, the people on the floats helped usher in the Christmas spirit by tossing candy toward eager young faces and shouting “Merry Christmas!” Following the parade’s conclusion, many people walked or drove down to City Hall to participate in the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Jingle Market, where attendees could get to experience a range of local businesses Hundreds gathered around City Hall to witness the 2022 Christmas Tree Lighting event on Nov. 19. and shop for Christmas gifts and decora tions. In addition to the Jingle Market being open from 4 to 8 p.m., families were also able to walk up to the farmer’s market pavilion to take photos with Santa and purchase concessions from local and regional food vendors. After a couple hours of market merri ment, excitement began to build prior to the annual tree lighting at 6 p.m. Just before the lighting commenced, awards were handed out to some of the best floats in the Christmas parade. When that ceremony concluded, hun dreds gathered around the towering tree in front of City Hall and began to count down from 10. With every second that passed, the sounds of cheering and clapping swelled — until the tree was finally illuminated in all its glory for everyone to witness. The night was capped off by live entertainment of classic Christmas tunes, courtesy of many local groups including the Dawson County High School chorus. Neighborhood collects turkeys, food, donations for The Place By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com Over the past two weekends, residents of Chestatee neighborhood in Dawson County have been hard at work collecting turkeys, non-perishable food items and monetary donations for The Place of Dawson County to help with the nonprofit’s Thanksgiving boxes that will be distributed to those in need of a little extra help with their holiday meal. The turkey drive lasted from Nov. 1 through Nov. 12, and during this time Chestatee residents collected a grand total of 85 turkeys, 503 pounds of non-perish able food and $3,840 in monetary dona tions. During the drive, several residents throughout the neighborhood set up boxes on their porches to collect canned goods and other non-perishable food items. The Place came out to the neighborhood on Saturday Nov. 5 and Saturday Nov. 12 with a refrigerator truck, and neighbors came by in golf carts, in cars and on foot to drop off turkeys, checks and other donations. See Turkey 13A David Ralston, Georgia House Speaker, dies By Jeff Amy Associated Press Georgia House Speaker David Ralston died Wednesday at 68, spokesperson Kaleb McMichen said, less than two weeks after he announced he was stepping down because of health concerns. A statement issued by McMichen said only that Ralston had died after “an extended illness.” The Blue Ridge Republican became Georgia state govern ment’s second most powerful leader during his 13 years leading the 180-member House. “A great pine tree has fallen in the Georgia House of Representatives,” said Democrat Calvin Smyre of Columbus, the longest-serving member of the House and a friend of Ralston. See Ralston 14A 8 10499 02599 2 ® Events I Cl pi P Classifieds XX XljXvLv Dear Abby Deaths Volume 8, Number 42 j 1 © 2022, Dawson County News ° Dawsonville, Georgia Opinion Sports 2B 6B 5B 2A 6B 7A 1B 4A Santa, hundreds of helpers ride during Toy Run 6A Dawsonville, Dahlonega Mayors’ pets compete for title of cutest dog’
