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A Nicholson man won a $500,000 top prize playing $500,000 Hold ‘Em Poker, a Georgia Lottery instant game. James Whitley, 33, purchased his ticket at the Golden Pantry on Highway 72 West in Hull. “I said, ‘Man that looks good,’ ” he recalled after scratching the winning ticket. “It felt good, too.” Whitley, who installs gutters, ... [Full Story »] 

Major state funding cuts for education are showing up on the Commerce School System financial ledger. Reductions in monthly Quality Based Education (QBE) allotments — basically, the state’s education funding program — totaled $112,167 in April alone in Commerce, according to school system reports. Prior to April, the monthly cut had been ... [Full Story »] 

The Jackson County and Banks County boards of commissioners face a dilemma. BJC Medical Center has asked for a $3.7 million cash infusion to help keep the hospital and nursing home open. A combination of factors has brought the hospital to the edge of insolvency. Federal reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid have not kept up with the cost of ... [Full Story »] 

A dispute turned violent Wednesday evening in Nicholson. A 26-year-old Jefferson man was life-flighted in critical condition to Grady Memorial Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds following the shooting, which took place at around 5 p.m. at a 8353 Brockton Road residence about an eighth of a mile west of U.S. 441. Jackson County Sheriff's ... [Full Story »] 

A warrant will be taken for a Commerce man following an incident at Commerce Cardiology last week. According to the Commerce Police Department incident report, a 70-year-old patient “became physical” with a 45-year-old white female office worker over a business arrangement between the man and Dr. Narasimhulu Neelagaru that had nothing to do ... [Full Story »] 

The struggling BJC Medical Center needs cash from Banks and Jackson counties to stay afloat. Rick Massey, a member of BJC Medical Center Authority, appeared before the Jackson County Board of Commissioners Monday night to ask the county to guarantee — and repay — 75 percent of a $5.2 million loan, as well as guarantee 75 percent of a $1 ... [Full Story »] 

The Commerce High School Band and Chorus will perform a free concert Friday night at Spencer Park. The 6:30 concert is the second of the Downtown Development Authority's Fridays After Five series. Other Fridays After Five events include May 15, 6:30 p.m., a concert by the East Jackson Comprehensive High School Jazz BAnd. May 29, dusk, the movie ... [Full Story »]