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Natis Hall, 1, of Dalton, visits with Santa Claus at Harbor House off Bryant Avene in Dalton on Tuesday. Harbor House is an outreach organization that distributes boxes of food to families and refers people to social service agencies. Full Story;
Editor’s note: Staff writer Mark Millican, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, wrote this fictional story in advance of Christmas Day. “Merry Christmas, Marine!” the gunnery sergeant barked as he spooned a heap of dressing on the enlisted man’s tray. Full Story;
Christmas comes early for Dalton man
John Ausec of Dalton plans to take a cruise with his wife Karen after winning $52,000 in the Georgia Lottery. Ausec, 71, was one of two players to win $1,000 a week for a year for matching five out of six numbers plus the Free Ball in the Dec. 5 Win for Life drawing. Full Story;
Members of Whitfield County Fire Department Station Nine dedicated a plaque in memory of Capt. Tommy McTee recently. Full Story;
• Dalton city government offices will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Christmas holidays, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, for New Year’s Day. The mayor and council will hold their first meeting of 2010 on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 6 p.m. in the council chamber at City Hall. Full Story;
Dalton city council to consider 2010 budget in Wednesday called meeting
The mayor and council of Dalton will have a called meeting on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at City Hall. On the agenda is adoption of the 2010 budget. To view the meeting online visit www.cityofdalton-ga.gov. Full Story;
Winter road closures on the Conasauga Ranger District
CHATSWORTH — Forest Service officials of the Chattahoochee National Forest are notifying the public of winter road closures on the Conasauga Ranger District that will begin on Jan. 4, 2010, and last until mid-March. Full Story;
Christmas Eve shopping, dining opportunities in Dalton
• Downtown Jewelers, 206 S. Hamilton St., will close at 3 p.m. • Loganberry’s, 251 N. Hamilton St. • Maryville Jewelers, 108 N. Hamilton St., will close at 4 p.m. Full Story;
Agenda for called meeting of the Dalton mayor and council on Dec. 30
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more… Full Story;
• Troy Devon Jones, 29, 112 Vivian Drive, Dalton, was charged Tuesday by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office with sale or intent to sell marijuana. • Sharon Annette Hayden, 31, 1481 Heather Way, Dalton, was charged Tuesday by the Dalton Police Department with prostitution. Full Story;
Dalton’s unemployment rate declines slightly
The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the metro Dalton area declined to 12.7 percent in November, down .1 percent point from a revised 12.8 percent in October. Full Story;
Friends and Neighbors: Meet Jeremiah Stevens
If Jeremiah Stevens had his way, the 2,074-page U.S. Senate health care bill would never have made it to the floor. Full Story;
“Holiday blues” can be serious, experts say
Many people feel down and depressed at Christmas. “That’s why they call it the holiday blues,” said Tim Rice, clinical director at Highland Rivers, which provides mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities services in 11 Georgia counties including Whitfield and Murray. Full Story;
Time capsule results “weird” for some, constant for others
Do you remember what you were like 10 years ago? Several former students opening 10-year time capsules at Coker Elementary School Tuesday morning were surprised when they saw their handwritten notes describing their admiration of Pokemon, boy bands and other pop culture items. Full Story;
Vandals strike during basketball tourney
Dalton police were still looking Tuesday for whoever broke into four vehicles at the North Georgia Trade and Convention Center Monday night, stealing cash and other valuables worth more than $700. Full Story;
Harvest Outreach offers free dinner on Christmas Day
Harvest Outreach will hold a community dinner on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free dinner will be held at the North Georgia Fairgrounds on Legion Drive in Dalton in the multipurpose building. Full Story;
• Kimberly Dawn Rowe, 46, 1938 Highway 411 S., Etowah, Tenn., was charged Monday by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office with three counts of failure to appear and bondsman off bond (theft by deception). Full Story;
Bethel retiring as CEO of J and J Industries
After 30 years of service to J&J Industries, CEO Jim Bethel will retire effective Dec. 31, 2009. Bethel announced his retirement plans late in 2008, and following his retirement, he will continue service on the company’s board of directors as vice chairman. Full Story;
New purpose for Brown Center at DSC
The Dalton State College building that opened three years ago to house the college’s Center for Continuing Education will be used for the social work department after the spring semester of 2010. Full Story;
The Christmas light show at the Eton City Park runs nightly through Dec. 31. Admission is free, but donations are being accepted for the Eton Secret Santa program. The lights are synchronized with Christmas music. Full Story;
Skateboarder: Car was speeding
With an arm bone “snapped in half,” three broken ribs, a cracked pelvis and third-degree burns on his hands and back, Christopher Grove is recuperating in a Chattanooga hospital room four days after being hit by an SUV. Full Story;
Dalton plans balanced spending
Dalton city spending would be basically flat next year under a $27.8 million operating budget the City Council discussed Monday night. “The big (department) numbers won’t be very different. They’ll be pretty close to what we are going to spend this year. Full Story;
• Sylvia Michelle Hart, 44, 77 Amber Court, Jasper, was charged Sunday by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office with burglary, possession of tools for the commission of a crime and criminal trespass. Full Story;
Study may spark talks on city, county fire depts. merger
Talks of merging the city of Dalton and Whitfield County fire departments have slowed in recent months. Dalton Mayor David Pennington hopes the results of a $10,000 study on the effects of consolidation will push those talks to the forefront. Full Story;
Tracking skills helped nab suspected dealer
Even in swampy, wooded terrain made worse by heavy rains, Todd Thompson sensed he and two U.S. marshals were closing in on the trail of alleged drug dealer David Townsend. Full Story;
Images of swans are projected on a screen created by a water
fountain in Tokyo. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao
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