Awesome Dawson 2024 by The Times

DAWSON COUNTY’S

On the Cover

Meet our photo contest winners! Michelle and Kevin McIntire, plus cute pup Sydnee, entered and won our contest to be featured in Awesome Dawson. We thank everyone who entered and voted. Thank you for making Dawson your favorite place to have a mini-vacay.

Thank you to Amicalola Falls Lodge for hosting our photoshoot.

Photos by Scott Rogers, award-winning photographer.

Manuscripts, artwork, photography, inquiries and submitted materials are welcome. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Metro Market Media LLC. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Metro Market Media cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Dawson County New reserves the right to refuse advertisements for any reason. Acceptance of advertising does not mean or imply the services or product is endorsed or recommended by Dawson County News.

EDITOR Erica Jones

GROUP PUBLISHER

Stephanie Woody

DIRECTOR OF

Margie Rogers

ADVERTISING SALES

Jessica Shirley

ADVERTISING SALES

Meghan Hernandez

CREATIVE

April Seymour, Chelsea Sunshine, Courtney Smith

PHOTOGRAPHY

Scott Rogers, Erica Jones, Various Contributors

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Erica Jones Dawson County

DAWSON COUNTY, GEORGIA

Dawson County Government Center 25 Justice Way (706) 344-3500

County ordinances can be found at: https://library.municode.com/ga/ dawson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Animal Control: (706) 265-7387

Department of Family and Children Services: (706) 265-6598

Elections and Voter Registration: (706) 344-3640

Extension Office: (706) 265-2442

Health Department: (706) 265-2611

Licenses and Permits: 706-344-3651

Tax Commissioner: (706) 344-3520

Transit: (706) 344-3603

Clerk of Courts: (706) 344-3510

Superior Court: 706-344-3513

Magistrate Court: (706) 344-3730

Probate Court: (706) 344-3580

Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Law Enforcement Center 19 Tucker Avenue Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 344-3535

www.dawsoncountysheriff.org

jleverette@dawsoncountyga.gov

DAWSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Dawson County has a five-member board with four district commissioners and a chairman who are all elected at-large. Commissioners serve four-year terms. The board appoints a county manager. The Dawson County Board of Commissioners meets on the first and third Thursday each month. The Commission’s work session begins at 4 p.m. and a voting session immediately follows. An executive session (as needed) follows the voting session. Work session agenda items generally move forward to the next meeting’s voting session for BOC consideration. Special called meetings are held when necessary. The public is invited to attend these meetings, which are held in the 2nd Floor Assembly Room of the Dawson County Government Center, 25 Justice Way, Dawsonville, Georgia.

Seth Stowers District 1 Commissioner district1@dawsoncountyga.gov

Chris Gaines District 2 Commissioner district2@dawsoncountyga.gov

CITY OF DAWSONVILLE COUNCIL MEMBERS

Alexa Bruce District 3 Commissioner district3@dawsoncountyga.gov

Emory Dooley District 4 Commissioner district4@dawsoncountyga.gov

415 Highway 53 East, Suite 100 Dawsonville, GA 30534 | (706) 265-3256 Billy Thurmond Board of Commissioners Chair chairman@dawsoncountyga.gov

IMPORTANT

PHONE NUMBERS

Water and Sewer

City of Dawsonville (706) 265-3256

Etowah Water and Sewer (706) 216-8474

Natural Gas

Atlanta Gas Light Company

https://www.atlantagaslight.com/

Electricity

Georgia Power (888) 660-5890

Sawnee EMC (770) 887-2363

Amicalola EMC (706) 253-5200

Propane Gas

GETTING SETTLED INTO A NEW HOME CAN TAKE TONS OF WORK. THIS LIST OF NUMBERS SHOULD MAKE GETTING THE WATER RUNNING AND THE CABLE GOING EASIER, EVEN IF IT CAN’T UNPACK THOSE BOXES.

Amicalola Propane (706) 344-1427

Ferrellgas (706) 864-6151

Mark Heard Fuel Co. (706) 265-2994

Mills Fuel Service (706) 265-3394

Folger Gas (706) 632-7606

Phone/TV/internet Windstream (706) 867-3333

North Georgia Network (706) 754-5323

Trash pickup City of Dawsonville (706) 265-3256

Evans Garbage (706) 216-4232

Dawson County Transfer Station (706) 344-3645

400 Waste & Scrap LLC (706) 216-1485

Court Superior Court (706) 344-3513

Dawson County Schools’ Central Office

To contact a member of the leadership team, call (706) 265-3246 or email as listed below:

Nicole LeCave, Superintendent nicole.lecave@dawsoncountyschools.org

Dr. Janice Darnell, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning janice.darnell@dawsoncountyschools.org

Hershel Bennett, Assistant Superintendent of Operations hershel.bennett@dawsoncountyschools.org

Roman Gaddis, Executive Director of Technology roman.gaddis@dawsoncountyschools.org

Jenna Carpenter, Director of Human Resources jenna.carpenter@dawsoncountyschools.org

Beth Covington, Finance Director beth.covington@dawsoncountyschools.org

Page Arnette, Director of Instructional Services for Elementary Schools page.arnette@dawsoncountyschools.org

Dr. Vikki Brannon, Director of Youth Health Services vikki.brannon@dawsoncountyschools.org

Dr. Nathan Hand, Director of Secondary Instructional Services nathan.hand@dawsoncountyschools.org

P.J. Huggins, Director of Transportation pj.huggins@dawsoncountyschools.org

Dr. Todd Langley, Director of Exceptional Children todd.langley@dawsoncountyschools.org

Dr. Denise Reynolds, Director of Federal Programs, Assessment and Accountability denise.reynolds@dawsoncountyschools.org

Scott Richardson, Director of School Nutrition scott.richardson@dawsoncountyschools.org

Tony Wooten, Safe Schools Manager tony.wooten@dawsoncountyschools.org

Everett Burt, Maintenance Supervisor everett.burt@dawsoncountyschools.org

Tiffany Davis, Board & Public Relations Coordinator tiffany.davis@dawsoncountyschools.org

Brian DeRose, Coordinator of Instructional Technology brian.derose@dawsoncountyschools.org

DAWSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Doris Cook District 1 dcook@dawson.k12.ga.us

Elaine Wilson District 2 ewilson@dawson.k12.ga.us

Nicole LeCave Superintendent nlecave@dawson.k12.ga.us

Karen Armstrong District 3 karmstrong@dawson.k12.ga.us

Chairperson Nathan Ingram Member at Large nathan.ingram@dawson.k12.ga.us

Vice-Chairperson Barry Slaton District 4 barry.slaton@dawson.k12.ga.us

DAWSON COUNTY PRINCIPALS

Cindy Kinney Black’s Mill Elementary ckinney@dawson.k12.ga.us

Linda Bearden Robinson Elementary lbearden@dawson.k12.ga.us

Kim Bennett Kilough Elementary Principal kbennett@dawson.k12.ga.us

Paige Galt

Dawson County Middle paige.galt@dawson.k12.ga.us

Adam Maroney Riverview Elementary amaroney@dawson.k12.ga.us

Brody Hughes

Dawson County Junior High School bhughes@dawson.k12.ga.us

Michael Negley

Dawson County High School

michael.negley@dawson.k12.ga.us

SPLOST & ESPLOST

SPLOST

SPLOST stands for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, a 1 percent sales tax that was adopted by the Dawson County Board of Commissioners as a resolution and approved by the citizens in a general election. It is a six-year collection that began in July 2021. Funds are allocated to both the county and city of Dawsonville. The county receives 88 percent of collections and the city of Dawsonville receives 12 percent. Each entity is responsible for programming and managing its own SPLOST funds. SPLOST VII dollars will fund projects including the construction of a new emergency 911 center and public health building, money for facility renovations and upgrades, equipment purchases, road repair projects and park improvement projects.

ESPLOST

We are excited to announce that Namaste Inn & Suites Dawsonville is now open for business with a fresh, new brand! We welcome you with Tranquility!

Our newly renovated facility offers:

pool and Jacuzzi

The Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) is a 1 percent sales tax that is utilized by Dawson County Schools to fund capital projects. Some of the projects that have been funded through the current ESPLOST include the Dawson County High School’s Performing Arts Center, JROTC facility and the College and Career Academy, as well as the recently opened Multipurpose Athletic Building and Roger D. Slaton AgriScience Center. Wireless networks, iPads, faculty laptops, smartboards, computer labs and Apple TVs across all campuses in Dawson County have been purchased and updated with ESPLOST funds. Newly renovated bathrooms with showers

THE DAWSON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving its members and the Dawson County community. Everything that the chamber staff, board and ambassadors do is centered around the chamber’s mission: to be a “Leading catalyst for a better Dawson County”.

The chamber allows business owners and professionals in the community an opportunity to expand their network and increase their exposure, and chamber members have access to

a long list of valuable resources to help their businesses thrive.

The chamber works to help businesses prosper and grow, increase job opportunities, encourage an orderly expansion and development of all segments of the community, contribute to

the overall economic stability of the community and promote the nation’s private enterprise system of competitive marketing, all to the end goal of “cultivating a successful economic environment and a desirable quality of life for our businesses and community”.

To learn more about the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, the resources it provides and how to become a member, go to https://www.dawsonchamber.org/ or call 706-265-6278.

Mandy Power President and CEO

Jessica Grigsby Membership Director

Kevin Herrit Director of Economic Development

Anna Graefen Director of Marketing & Events

Dustin Heard Tourism Director

Callie McNeilly Welcome Center Coordinator

A WORD FROM SHERIFF JOHNSON

Welcome to the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office. We hope that you will take an opportunity to learn more about our desire and dedication to better serve our citizens, our businesses, and our visitors. We are proud to partner with our community in an effort to more effectively combat crime. We believe that a collective and concerted approach will produce greater success. We take great pride in our service and truly seek to make our county a safer place to live, to work, to worship and to play.

Sheriff Jeff Johnson

Rock Creek Sports Complex

by Erica Jones

By Erica Jones, ejones@dawsonnews.com

Located off of Highway 9, the Rock Creek Sports Complex includes dozens of activities for anyone to enjoy.

The complex features soccer fields, baseball/softball fields, tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, a walking trail, weight room, gymnasium, covered pavilions and a community room.

Rock Creek also houses several amenities that were installed by the Rotary Club of Dawson County, including Rotary Island Splash Pad. The splash pad is free for public use and open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The park includes indoor and outdoor pickleball courts and an indoor basketball facility which features two separate courts with six goals each. There are also batting cages, a playground and a hitting wall where people can either practice by themselves or challenge a friend.

Photos

Main Street Park

Photos by Erica Jones

By Erica Jones, ejones@dawsonnews.com

Located just behind Dawsonville City Hall and the Dawsonville Food Lion, Main Street Park offers a wide range of fun outdoor activities to visitors of all ages.

The park opened in April of 2020, and since then the City of Dawsonville has continued to add new amenities and activities. The park includes ample parking for visitors, as well as bike racks and sidewalks.

The children’s playground offers a range of fun activities for children, as well as seating for the adults. A unique feature of the park is its wheelchair-accessible swing, which allows wheelchair-bound people a chance to participate in the fun.

In addition to the playground, Main Street Park includes over 1.1 miles of paved trails for runners and walkers, benches and 14 fitness stations located along the trail. Pollinator gardens and blue bird houses allow visitors a chance to connect with nature, and three covered pavilions, charcoal grills and coal boxes allow ample space for families to picnic.

Some of the newer additions to the park include a skate park, ninehole disc golf course, cornhole boards, a dog park and an electric vehicle charging station in partnership with Indigo Energy. The city also officially opened its new pickleball and basketball courts at Main Street Park in 2023.

Veterans Memorial Park

Photos by Erica Jones

By Erica Jones, ejones@dawsonnews.com

Veterans Memorial Park has been a large part of Dawson County for years. Originally Dawson County Park, it was renamed Veterans Memorial Park in 2007.

The park includes a football field, walking trail, baseball/softball fields, multipurpose field, tennis courts, a gymnasium, tennis courts, an outdoor basketball court and outdoor covered pavilions.

Veterans Memorial Park is also home to Dawson County’s public pool. The pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day and includes lounge chairs, tables, chairs, umbrellas, restrooms and showers and a covered picnic area that is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry to the pool is just $3 for a daily pass, or season passes can be purchased online or at the main office at Rock Creek Park.

The park also houses the Pauline Stevens Ivey Senior Center and the Margie Weaver Senior Center, which provide a number of activities and services to local senior citizens.

War Hill Park

Photos by Erica Jones

By Erica Jones, ejones@dawsonnews.com

Located adjacent to Lake Lanier, War Hill Park offers visitors a chance to enjoy time in the sun and out on the water.

The park features a small beach, 14 primitive campsites and a bath house with restrooms and showers, day-use areas and four boat ramps. The day-use areas and boat ramps are open all year round, and the campsites are open from March 1 through Oct. 31.

Annual passes are available for boat ramp and day-use areas and can be purchased online or at the main office at Rock Creek Park. Campsite reservations are available online only at www.dawsoncounty.org/parksrec.

Fishing is also allowed at War Hill Park. The part of the lake where anyone can cast their lines and fish for a day is located on the other side of the park.

War Hill Park also houses a “Little Lending Library”, installed by Dawson County Wee Books. The little library is located in the center of the park and is available for anyone in the community to borrow books from.