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An Oxford, AL, man insisted to Commerce Police officers that he could not be arrested for sitting on his porch cursing, but it turned out he was wrong. Roger Eugene Diekmann, 34, 5 Heatherwood Lane, Oxford, AL, was arrested for disorderly conduct after an incident at Country Boys RV Park, Mt. Olive Road. Responding to a report of a man cursing, ... [Full Story »] 

Sometimes its scarcely noticeable, but the unemployment rate in Georgia — and Jackson County — continues to trend downward. The Georgia Department of Labor announced Monday that the state’s preliminary unemployment rate was 10 percent, down two-tenths of a percent from February. Jackson County’s jobless rate for March is pegged at 10 ... [Full Story »] 

The Nicholson Daisy Festival will take place Friday through Sunday. Vendors will set up booths beginning Friday morning offering a variety of food, handmade carvings, jewelry, purses, glass blowing, candles, and a variety of other items. The event kicks off Friday with a cakewalk from 6 to 7 p.m. and karaoke from 7 to 9 p.m. The parade will be ... [Full Story »] 

Students have been in the new Commerce High School since late January, but Commerce school officials continue to wind down the project. One of the big events will be the dedication of the Bill Anderson Center for the Performing Arts, but that won’t happen until August. “My understanding is Bill will be here the weekend of Aug. 12 and 13,” ... [Full Story »] 

Fire heavily damaged a doublewide mobile home Wednesday morning at 146 Steeplechase Road in the Fox Chase subdivision in Nicholson. The fire was reportedly started by a young child. Mandy Murphy said she was cleaning a bedroom in the residence of her boyfriend, Tim Polanszek when she heard the smoke alarm go off. She ran to the bedroom and ... [Full Story »] 

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to have interim county manager Leonard Myers investigate the alleged forced resignation of a county department head in March. Commissioner Tom Crow made the motion after reading a prepared letter about questionable actions by former county manager Darrell Hampton. Crow stated: ... [Full Story »] 

Representatives of five area counties, including Jackson, are planning an “ag summit” next fall to discuss how to better market the area for agriculture-related companies. The Northeast Georgia Joint Development Authority, which comprises Jackson, Athens-Clarke, Elbert, Madison and Oglethorpe counties, will host the event. “I think our ... [Full Story »]