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One of Northeast Georgia’s best-known community banks failed Friday, Jan. 29. Community Bank & Trust was taken over by state and federal regulators and the bank’s assets sold to SCBT, N.A. of Orangeburg, SC. CB&T is based in Cornelia, GA, and has 36 branches, many in Northeast Georgia, including Jackson and Barrow counties. The firm ... [Full Story »] 

By Mark Beardsley Following the debacle (for the Republicans) of 2008, they can be forgiven for seeing in the Massachusetts election results last week as a cause for celebration. I mean, Ted Kennedy replaced by a Republican? It’s champagne time. As an un-republican, I, of course, am never thrilled by the election of someone of that stripe, ... [Full Story »] 

A new general surgeon is expected to be on staff at BJC Medical Center by mid-March. Reporting to the medical center’s governing authority Monday afternoon, CEO Jim Yarborough said the prospect — who he did not identify — was in town last week “house hunting and checking out schools.” Meanwhile, Yarborough said the surgeon’s ... [Full Story »] 

A Norcross architectural firm will design the addition to the Commerce Public Library. Ann Rhoads, chairman of the Commerce Library Board, announced Monday night that Ponder & Ponder was selected from among four firms the board opted to interview. Those companies were finalists from a larger number who had responded to the board’s request ... [Full Story »] 

The Commerce Police Department wants its handcuffs back, and it has other reasons to seek a 20-year-old Commerce man who escaped from the back of a police car. Francisco Rodriguez-Lopez, 20, his hands handcuffed behind his back, somehow got his hands in front of himself, managed to roll down a window in the police car while officers worked a ... [Full Story »] 

The people who lead the effort to lure new industry to Jackson County expect something of a turnaround occurring this year. Call it cautious optimism. After landing just one major business in 2009, the Aldi distribution center, the county’s chamber president and Industrial Development Authority expect better days in 2010. “I’m really ... [Full Story »]