Here's the news you need to know and the details that cover it 
all in Hall!
Logo design receives national award

Hall County Government received national recognition for its new logo design project during the 3CMA Conference in Atlanta last month. Hall County was presented with the Silver Circle Award for the project, which was completed last year.  Click here for more
October is Fire Prevention Month

October is Fire Prevention Month. Just as they do all year long, members of Hall County Fire Services will be out in the community and in the schools, educating others about the importance of fire safety. Pictured to the right is a recent example of one of the ways Hall County Fire Services teaches the community about fire prevention.  In this instance, they provided safety information to families visiting Don Carter State Park.  Make sure you know how to prevent fires!  Click here for more information on fire prevention
HCSO introduces 'Healthy Heroes Program' in schools

Hall County Sheriff Gerald introduced a new initiative last month called the "Healthy Heroes Program" in coordination with the ADVANCE (Avoiding Drugs, Violence and Negative Choices Early) Unit and Hall County Schools. Training Division Sgt. Greg Cochran was assisted by ADVANCE Unit deputies as they began their curriculum in Hall County 5th grade classrooms, explaining how nutrition affects personal health and influences academic achievement. Additionally, Sgt. Cochran's objectives will include demonstrating to the children in our ADVANCE program how exercise can help them feel good and become more energetic. The goal of Healthy Heroes will be to encourage students to make life-long healthy choices, as relating to nutrition and physical activity. 
New playgrounds installed at 2 Hall Co. parks

Two Hall County parks are sporting some new features just in time for fall!  New playground equipment has been installed at East Hall Park and Cool Springs Park.  Find out more about the new features by clicking here. 
walt davis
Hall County C.I. Warden pens article for state magazine

Walt Davis, warden for the Hall County Correctional Institution, wrote an article that was recently published in the 2015 fall edition of Georgia County Government Magazine.  Warden Davis' article highlights Hall County's R.E.A.C.T. (Reentry Accountability Court Transition) program and the difference it is making in local recidivism rates.  Read the entire article by clicking on the following link: 
Property tax statements in the mail

Property tax season is upon us, and the Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office is preparing to issue approximately 86,000 tax statements for real and personal property. The 2015 Hall County property tax statements are scheduled for mailing Oct. 1 and are due Dec. 1. Click here for more
Upcoming Animal Shelter events

October is a busy month at the Hall County Animal Shelter.  Take a look at some of the upcoming events below:

Oct. 9-10: Visit the Animal Shelter tent at Mule Camp Market on the downtown Gainesville square!  Microchipping for only $20.

Oct. 17: Harvest Balloon Festival at Sterling on the Lake; proceeds benefit the Animal Shelter

Oct. 24: "Pup Crawl" on the Gainesville Square; enjoy drink specials at local restaurants, live music, pet contests and more! 
Self-service tag renewal kiosk now open

The self-service renewal kiosk located at North Hall Community Center, 4175 Nopone Road, has been a wonderful addition and success to date, according to officials in the Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office.  Opened in August 2015, the kiosk allows residents of Hall and Banks counties to renew their tags by scanning the QR code on their driver's license, renewal notice, or by entering their plate number. 
 
Early Voting to begin, polling location changes announced 

There will be a countywide ESPLOST vote on Nov. 3.  In addition to the countywide Special Election, there will also be a General Election for the cities of Gainesville, Flowery Branch and Lula. The cities of Clermont and Oakwood will have a Special Election on that same day as well. Voting will take place at the various precincts, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 5.  Early/Advance Voting will take place Oct. 12- Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Saturday voting will be available on Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the following locations:
  • Elections Office, Hall County Government Center - 2875 Browns Bridge Road; Gainesville
  • North Site - North Hall Community Center - 4175 Nopone Road; Gainesville
  • South Site - Spout Springs Library - 6488 Spout Springs Road; Flowery Branch 
Absentee Ballots will be available Oct. 9.
 
Polling location changes beginning with the Nov. 3 election are as follows:
 
  • If in 2014 you voted at Free Chapel Worship Center,  you now vote at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church; 3650 Browns Bridge Road; Gainesville
  • If in 2014 you voted at West Hall Baptist Church, you now vote at the OGT Worship Center; 5004 McEver Road; Oakwood
  • If in 2014 you voted at Poplar Springs Baptist Church, you now vote at the Blackshear Place Baptist Church; 3428 Atlanta Highway; Flowery Branch
  • If in 2014 you voted at Library at Rabbittown, you now vote at the East Hall Community Building; 3911 P Davison Road; Gainesville
  • If in 2014 you voted at Northlake Baptist Church, you now vote at The River Community Church; 5043 Thompson Bridge Road; Murrayville
  • If in 2014 you voted at St. Michael Catholic Church, you now vote at the Gainesville Civic Center; 830 Green Street; Gainesville
  • If in 2014 you voted at Living Waters Church, you now vote at the Rivers Community Church; 5043 Thompson Bridge Road; Murrayville
  • If in 2014 you voted at Corinth Baptist Church, you now vote at the Journey Church; 4091 Mount Vernon Road; Gainesville
  • If in 2014 you voted at Prince of Peace Church, CW Davis Middle School or Friendship Elementary School, please refer to your new voter registration card.
 
All registered voters in Hall County should receive a new voter registration card by Oct. 3. If you do not receive a card in the mail, please contact 770-531-6945.

 Click here fore more information, including a sample ballot
HCFS collects funds to 'Give Burns the Boot!'

For the first three Fridays in October, members of Hall County Fire Services will be standing along some Hall County roads, collecting money for the 'Give Burns the Boot' drive, benefiting the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.  The foundation partners with the fire service and burn care community to provide fire safety and prevention education, support medical facilities and assist burn survivors in their recovery. 
Sign up for the Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy! 

Registration for the next installment of the Hall County Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy is underway, and time is running out!  The academy consists of 10 individual sessions, occurring over six weeks.  The academy begins on Tuesday, Oct. 13 and meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m .to 9 p.m. through Nov. 12. 
TV-18's Hall County Connection features the HCSO Fatal Vision Program

Hall County Connection - Fatal Vision - October 2015
Hall County Connection - Fatal Vision - October 2015
Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group?  Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.  Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and proven strategies like the Hall County Sheriff's Office's Fatal Vision Program are making a difference. Click here to watch the complete episode.
Hall Co. firefighters serve their community

September was a busy month for Hall County Fire Services.  In addition to their usual duties of protecting the public and responding to emergency calls, the department also participated in Sept. 11 ceremonies, marking the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. As a part of their Community Risk Reduction program, representatives from Station 5's B-shift visited with students at Martin Elementary School and taught them valuable safety skills. Finally, members of the Atlanta Falcons football team (Dez Southward and Ricardo Allen) visited Hall County fire stations to show their support for HCFS.
HCSO collects unused prescription drugs in 'Operation Pill Drop'

The Hall County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County, the Flowery Branch Police Department Department, the National Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Kohl's in Flowery Branch, hosted "Operation Pill Drop" on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kohl's parking lot in Flowery Branch. Citizens were invited to drop off their expired or unused prescription medications, anonymously and with no questions asked, to the location during the event for proper disposal. The efforts of all community partners were a collective push to keep the medications from falling into the hands of a loved one who might not know the dangers of taking them outside the parameters of a prescription.  A total of 259 pounds of medication were collected at the event for proper disposal. 
Expanded services now available for motor vehicle renewals 

In cooperation with the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR), Hall County Tax Commissioner Darla Eden is pleased to announce expanded services for motor vehicle registration renewals with online lookup availability for the Renewal Identification Number (RIN).  A RIN is a 12-digit number necessary for online renewals.  The RIN lookup will further promote and encourage the efficient process of online registration renewals for motor vehicles services.  Click here to obtain your RIN number online
HCSO participates in 'Night of Heroes' at Chick-fil-A

Hall County Sheriff's Office Community Service Unit Deputies Chuck Poteet and Chad Mann, along with Chuck Chad and his K-9 Gracie from the K-9 Unit, entertained children at the Chick-fil-A in Flowery Branch on Sept. 24 as a part of the restaurant's "Night of Heroes" event.  The deputies shared stories of courage and helped the children make badges and hats. Each child in attendance also received a SafeKids complete child ID kit and car seat identification stickers from the WHALE program (We Have A Little Emergency). 
HCFS participates in Emergency Preparedness Fair at INK

Hall County Fire Services personnel from multiple stations met up at the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Fair on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK) museum. The HCFS vehicles that were featured included a fire truck, Haz-Mat Unit, a rescue vehicle and an ambulance. Members of HCFS used the fair as an opportunity to educate the public about fire prevention and fire safety.  
Katie Crumley | Hall County Government | 770.297.5504 | kcrumley@hallcounty.org 
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