Here's your local news at a glance for Sunday, the 21st of December.
Good morning, Gainesville.
🏘️ Community
On Friday, Hall County Animal Services rescued 100 animals from a Gainesville home on the 4000 block of Honeysuckle Road at about 10 a.m. The rescued animals — including dogs, cats, rabbits, a horse, a bird, and a fish — are now in the shelter receiving care while the investigation continues.
Two Hall County nonprofits received a combined $30K from the Jackson EMC Foundation’s Operation Round-Up grants; St. Vincent DePaul Prince of Peace in Flowery Branch will use its $10.5K for a homelessness prevention program while Habit for Humanity will fund heating units for low-income families in Hall County.
💼 Business
Oakwood Tire announced that local mother Miss Linda, nominated by Carly Bowen, won the 18th Cars For Christmas giveaway and will use the Oldsmobile for school runs and errands — the company also plans to move to 3440 Mabry Road while keeping its tire, brake, and mechanical services.
🎭 Culture
Brenau University is gaining national attention as its ghost, Agnes, appears on the society19 website's Top 20 Haunted Universities list + locals recall her tragic past when she took her life in the school's auditorium after falling in love with a professor.
🎓 Education
Chief Operations Officer Adrian Niles and Chief Finance Officer Kathy Pethel will retire after summer, ending long tenures that saw record facility and financial improvements.
They boosted campus space and refined salary practices (adding 500,000 sqft across the system).
🏈 Sports
North Hall girls basketball team defeated Lakeview Academy on Dec.
20 in Flowery Branch — four players scored in double figures — and advanced to a semifinal matchup with either Cherokee Bluff or Flowery Branch.
Gainesville's Red Elephants scored a late first-half run in the Lanierland Basketball Tournament on Dec.
20 at Cherokee Bluff High (Flowery Branch) and advanced to the semifinals.
Gainesville's Lady Red Elephants defeated East Hall in the Lanierland Basketball Tournament opening round on Dec.
20, 2025, with Jaucelyn Smith and Kelsey Lester each scoring double digits and advancing the team to Monday's semifinals.
The Cherokee Bluff girls beat Flowery Branch in their Lanierland first-round game on Saturday, Dec.20 (played at Cherokee Bluff High in Flowery Branch).
Senior Claire Carlson made three long-range shots in the first period to boost the team.
Chestatee girls won big in the first Lanierland round, and the Lady War Eagles will face Gainesville in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Monday at West Hall High.
Cherokee Bluff boys turned an early setback in the second period into a 20-point lead by halftime—helping them secure a first-round win against Chestatee in the Lanierland quarterfinals on Dec.
20 at Cherokee Bluff High in Flowery Branch.
After East Hall dominated West Hall on Dec.
20 in the first round of Lanierland, the Vikings will face Gainesville in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. on Monday at West Hall.
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