Awesome Dawson 2019

awesome

DAWSON 2019

Dawson County’s Only Newcomer’s Guide presented by

DAWSONCOUNTYNEWS

Look for the Leaf

At Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), our team cares for more than 1 million people across the region through four hospital campuses and a variety of other locations.

Locations convenient to Dawson County include: Hospitals - Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville and Lumpkin – with services including Heart & Vascular, Cancer Treatment, Orthopedics, Emergency Care and more Medical Plaza 400 – multiple physician offices representing a variety of specialties come together in one building for your convenience in Dawsonville Imaging Center – Dawsonville Northeast Georgia Physicians Group – more than 350 providers represent 30 specialties at more than 65 locations including: Dahlonega – Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and OB/GYN Dawsonville – Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, OB/GYN, Orthopedics and Pediatrics Visit ngpg.org to find a provider near you.

Visit nghs.com

The Heart Center of NGMC – more than 60 providers at more than a dozen locations including: Dawsonville and Dahlonega Visit heartngmc.org to find a provider near you.

Urgent Care – seven locations open seven days a week for the treatment of minor injuries and illnesses including: Dawsonville and Dahlonega Rehabilitation Centers – six locations for physical, speech and occupational therapy including: Dawsonville and Dahlonega

Our Heart is in Northeast Georgia.

Request an appointment with a cardiologist at one of The Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s locations, including Dawsonville and Dahlonega, by calling 770-534-2020 or visiting heartngmc.org/appointment.

Exceptional health care, close to home.

Family Medicine | General Surgery Neurology | Pediatrics | OB/GYN Internal Medicine | Sports Medicine

Two locations to serve you in Dawson County: Medical Plaza 400 | 108 Prominence Court, Dawsonville, GA 30534 300 Dawson Commons Circle #310, Dawsonville, GA 30534

ngpg.org

Welcome to Dawson County Having spent a fair share of my adulthood in the big city life, I told myself I wouldn’t move back to a small town – until I fell in love with Dawson County.

There was something about this particular place that was warm and inviting.

As editor of the Dawson County News, I’ve been able to meet the longtime locals and the newer residents like myself, and through the course of this magazine I got to ask people “why do you love Dawson County?”

Their answers were unsurprising to those of us who have spent a little time in town. An overwhelming majority said it’s the friendly people and the small town feel that makes Dawson County a great place to live.

You’ll find that people are quick to lend you a hand, pay it forward and support one another.

You’ll also find that this county has so much to offer in terms of activities and fun for the whole family.

It’s true that there’s something for everyone.

If you’re looking for some fast-paced thrills, head down to the Atlanta Motorsports Park to race go-karts that boast 55mph speeds. A little too fast for you?

Take a tour of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame to learn more about Dawson County’s illustrious racing history. While you’re there, stop by the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery next door to wet your whistle with the drink that put Dawsonville and NASCAR on the map.

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For those who love the quiet rural life, Dawson County has plenty of nature for you to enjoy. If hiking is your passion, plan a trip to Amicalola Falls State Park to see one of the most Instagrammed places in Georgia. Speaking of Instagram, head up to Fausett Farms to pose with the sunflowers in the fall for a selfie.

Dawson County offers plenty of activities at its parks including the Rotary Island Splash Pad at Rock Creek Park. The City of Dawsonville is also working on the completion of its Main Street Park in the heart of the city, which will include an inclusive destination playground, a dog park, walking trails and an amphitheater.

And for those who enjoy more of the big city life, Dawson County offers plenty of shops at the North Georgia Premium Outlets conveniently located on Ga. 400.

Whether you plan to visit or have decided to make Dawson County your home, we welcome you to our community and hope you’ll find Dawson as awesome as we do.

Joshua Demarest Editor Dawson County News

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Our Mission:

FEED THE HUNGRY OF DAWSON COUNTY RIC-Rack is a Dawson County food bank and thrift store dedicated to meeting the needs of those in need in our county. We have a thrift store open to the public with a large selection of clothing, shoes and home furnishings at discounted prices. Our food bank offers a variety of food items on a monthly basis to those who qualify under our guidelines. Please come by and shop and if you are interested in the food bank program, ask a staff member if you qualify.

We Accept Donations At The Store And Will Pick-Up Furniture Items At Your Home.

Food Bank Hours: M-W-F noon-3pm Thrift Store Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm 829 Hwy. 9N, Dawsonville, GA 30534 Thrift Store: 706-265-1371 • Food Bank: 706-265-1045

ric-rack.org

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Dawson County City of Dawsonville Important Phone Numbers

Serving the Dawson Community for Over 38 Years!

Dawson Schools For the Gram Your Pennies at Work Declutter Dawson Then & Now Food & Brew Why Dawson Community Events Community Faces

a publication of

DAWSONCOUNTYNEWS About the Cover: Photo of a sunflower at Fausett Farms.

Learn more about the annual sunflower patch on page 16.

Photo taken by Jessica Taylor.

Auto • Home Life • Health

Roger Slaton 40 Hightower Parkway Dawsonville, GA 706-216-8700 www.rogerslaton.com

Dawson County Voting Locations West Precinct: Dawson County Fire Station #6 2142 Hubbard Road Central Precinct: Dawson County Board of Elections & Registration Office 96 Academy Avenue East Precinct: Dawson County EMS Station #2 145 Liberty Drive

Key Amicalola Falls State Park Lake Sidney Lanier County District 1 County District 2 County District 3 County District 4

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Billy Thurmond Board of Commissioners Chair chairman@dawsoncounty.org

Sharon Fausett District 1 Commissioner district1@dawsoncounty.org

Dave Headley County Manager dheadley@dawsoncounty.org

Chris Gaines District 2 Commissioner district1@dawsoncounty.org

Tim Satterfield District 3 Commissioner district1@dawsoncounty.org

Julie Hughes Nix District 4 Commissioner district4@dawsoncounty.org

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City of Dawsonville

Mike Eason Mayor mike.eason@dawsonville-ga.gov

Bob Bolz City Manager citymanager@dawsonville-ga.gov

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Mon-Fri: 7:30am- 7:00pm; Sat: 7:30am- 6:00pm; Sun: 10:00am - 5:00pm 16 Moonshiners Way Dawsonville, Ga 30534

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Caleb Phillips City Council Post 1 caleb.phillips@dawsonville-ga.gov

Steve Tolson City Council Post 2 stephen.tolson@dawsonville-ga.gov

Jason Power City Council Post 3 jason.power@dawsonville-ga.gov

Mike French Cicy Council Post 4 mike.french@dawsonville-ga.gov

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Important Phone Numbers Water and Sewer City of Dawsonville (706) 265-3256 Etowah Water and Sewer (706) 216-8474

Propane Gas Amicalola Propane (706) 344-1427 Ferrellgas (706) 864-6151 Mark Heard Fuel Co. (770) 887-2333 Mills Fuel Service (706) 265-3394 Folger Gas (706) 632-7606

Natural Gas Atlanta Gas Light Company www.aglc.com Electricity Georgia Power (888) 660-5890 Sawnee EMC (800) 635-9131 Amicalola EMC (800) 992-6471

Phone/TV/internet Windstream (866) 961-9463 North Georgia Network (706) 754-5323

Trash pickup City of Dawsonville (706) 265-3256 Evans Garbage (706) 216-4232 G&G Sanitation (770) 887-6063 AAA Sanitation (770) 864-4860 Dawson County Transfer Center (706) 344-3645 Wallace 400 Waste Disposal (706) 216-1485 Auto Tag Office Dawson County Tax Assessor (706) 344-3520

Good food & service, families & sports Cozy Patio • Full bar including draft beer

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706-216-2800

| 837 Hwy 400 South, Ste 175, Dawsonville www.friendsamericangrill.com

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Dawson County Schools

Dawson County Board of Education From left: Superintendent Damon Gibbs, Doris Cook (District 1), Karen Armstrong (District 3), Vice Chairperson Will Wade (at large), Elaine Wilson (District 2) and Chairperson Roger Slaton (District 4).

Jungle Paradise

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Clint Eastwood featured her flowers in the movie “The Mule”.

• Sales Tours • Book Pavilion for Small Events • Spring Flowers - Easter

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NEIGHBORS. FRIENDS. COMMUNITY. For more than 65 years, United Community Bank has proudly served Dawsonville and other communities throughout the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee. After all, that’s what community banking is all about.

DAWSONVILLE 6372 Highway 53 East | 706-216-8444 109 Highway 53 West | 706-265-3232

• Summer Daylilies - Father’s Day Suzanne Wood Franklin

678-410-6830 Open: Mon-Sat 8:30am-8:30pm 929 Mill Creek Drive, Dawsonville, GA 30534

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Member FDIC. © 2019 United Community Bank | ucbi.com

Damon Gibbs Superintendent dgibbs @dawson.k12.ga.us

Cindy Kinney Black’s Mill Elementary Principal ckinney@dawson.k12.ga.us

Teresa Conowal Kilough Elementary Principal tconowal@dawson.k12.ga.us

Adam Maroney Riverview Elementary Principal amaroney@dawson.k12.ga.us

Page Arnette Robinson Elementary Principal parnette@dawson.k12.ga.us

Randi Sagona Dawson County Middle Principal rsagona@dawson.k12.ga.us

Connie Stovall Dawson County Jr. High Principal cstovall@dawson.k12.ga.us

Brody Hughes Dawson County High Principal bhughes@dawson.k12.ga.us

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Dawson County’s Top Instagram Spots Did you know that Dawson County is home to two of the most Instagrammed places in all of Georgia?

The official website of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, www.exploregeorgia. org, compiled a list of the 16 most Instagrammed

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places across the state of Georgia. And while locations in Atlanta and Savannah take up the majority of the list, Dawsonville’s own Fausett Farms took the No. 2 spot, and Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge took No. 12.

Fausett Farms 9847 Elliott Family Pkwy.

Dawsonville, GA 30534

Fausett Farms has been a family owned farm since 1858, with fields of more than 900,000 sunflowers across more than 30 acres in the north Georgia mountains. The farm opens to the public in September with wagon rides, barbecue, local honey and sunflowers for sale. There are also horse trails open year round at the farm.

The sunflowers open for the 2019 season on September 14.

Parking is $10 per car.

Professional photographers charging clients for sessions are allowed to photograph at Fausett Farms for $35.

You can bring your own horse to enjoy the horse trails for $10.

For more information call (706) 265-9661 or visit www.fausettfarmssunflowers.com.

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Amicalola Falls State Park 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road Dawsonville, GA 30534

Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is an 829acre state park that’s home to Amicalola Falls, the highest waterfall in Georgia. It is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. The park is also an 8-mile trail away from Springer Mountain, famous as the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The park offers hiking trails, cabins, a guest lodge, a restaurant and access to the Len Foote Hike Inn. For more information call (706) 265-8888 or visit www.amicalolafallslodge.com.

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North Georgia’s Top Choice for Veterinarian Services

Pet Wellness • Dental Cleanings & Treatment Surgery Services • Anesthesia • Patient Monitoring We work with both small & large Dogs, Cats, Equine and exotic Animals.

Dr. Ed Holton has over 25 years of Dawsonville Vet experience and is always happy to see you.

Make an Appointment Today!

All Animals Veterinary Hospital Welcomes you to Dawson County

Come visit our hospital today where your pets are our family, too!

639 Auraria Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534 706-222-3359

Your Pennies at Work Dawson County currently has several one-percent sales taxes in place to help fund infrastructure and education. Citizens voted in 2015 for both SPLOST and ESPLOST. Did you know? 80 to 85 percent of money generated from these sales taxes are dollars spent by people visiting Dawson County!

A dog's paradise and a home-awayfrom-home for your beloved companions.

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733 Elliott Family Pkwy - Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 265-1002 lauramanner@happydogretreat.com 22

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AMICALOLA PROPANE your hometown propane company

amicalolapropane.com | amicalolapropane@windstream.net

383 Highway 53 West, Dawsonville, GA

706-344-1GAS

SPLOST

ESPLOST

SPLOST stands for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, a one percent sales tax that was adopted by the Dawson County Board of Commissioners as a resolution and approved by the citizens in a general election. It is a six year collection which began in July 2015. Funds are allocated to both the county and city of Dawsonville.

The county receives 85 percent of collections and the city of Dawsonville receives 15 percent. Each entity is responsible for programming and managing its own SPLOST funds.

SPLOST dollars approved for FY2019 include the rehabilitation of the multiuse field and pavilion at Veterans Memorial Park, vehicles and equipment for the sheriff’s office, the Sweetwater Fire Station project, construction of the new Public Works Complex and fire truck payments.

The Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) is a 1 percent sales tax that is utilized by Dawson County Schools to fund capital projects. Some of the projects that have been funded through the current ESPLOST include the Dawson County High School’s Performing Arts Center, JROTC facility and the College and Career Academy. Wireless networks, iPads, faculty laptops, smartboards, computer labs and Apple TVs across all campuses in Dawson County have been purchased and updated with ESPLOST funds.

In order for ESPLOST to be added to the ballot, the superintendent may ask the board of education to consider calling for an ESPLOST referendum. It must be voted upon and approved by the board. A vote to continue ESPLOST was approved by the school board in July, and citizens will have the chance to cast their vote in November 2019.

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JUST MOVED IN? NEED TO DECLUTTER? DONATE YOUR ITEMS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES! RIC Rack 829 Hwy. 9 N, Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 265-1371 | www.ric-rack.org Why to donate: Items sold at the thrift store raise money for the RIC Rack food bank, helping the nonprofit with its mission to “Feed the Hungry of Dawson County.” The food bank currently provides more than 350 families in Dawson County with food every month.

Goodwill Thrift Sore & Donation Center 66 S 400 Center Lane, Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 216-3666 | www.goodwillng.org Why to donate: Items sold at the Goodwill thrift store helps to fund the Goodwill Career Center in Dawsonville. The career center offers free resources for those seeking employment, including access to local job listings, career preparation workshops and classes and monthly job fairs.

Humane Society Resale Shop & Boutique 54 Lumpkin Campground Road, Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 216-3666 | www.ric-rack.org Why to donate: The resale shop is run completely by volunteers, with all proceeds going toward the animals at the Dawson County Humane Society. Merchandise including furniture, antiques, home décor, clothing and accessories and household items are accepted during regular store hours.

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First-Class Metalwork for World-Class Brands www.btdmfg.com BTD differentiates itself in a competitive environment with exception to quality control, cost containment, innovation and rapid delivery.

We invest in our people, our equipment and our facilities to offer our clients the best value possible.

An Otter tAil COmpAny In 1995, BTD became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Otter Tail Corporation. This provided our company with the opportunity and resources to grow our business and better serve the needs of our customers. In addition, it helped expand our management expertise, strategic planning and allowed us to hire and train the best people in the business to make products for our customers.

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• Honda • John Deere • Kawasaki • Komatsu • Kubota • Pentair

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CustOm metAlwOrk fOr sOme Of the wOrld’s tOp BrAnds BTD provides a complete spectrum of custom metalwork services to some of the world’s top brands.

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BTD services our customers out of four facilities nationwide.

These locations include: • Washington, Illinois • Detroit Lakes, Minnesota • Lakeville, Minnesota • Dawsonville, Georgia

55 Impulse Industrial Dr | Dawsonville, GA | 706.216.1700 Awesome Dawson 2019 | 25

Then

DAWSON Jessica Taylor

It’d be hard for you to find another small town as rich with history as Dawsonville.

Before Dawson County was formed in December of 1857 from parts of Lumpkin, Gilmer and Pickens counties, this area was Creek territory.

For years before white settlers moved to the north Georgia terrain, what we now know as Dawson County belonged to Creek Indians until

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a war between the Creeks and Cherokee established the area as Cherokee territory.

To this day, we still use Native American names for some of the county’s most famous landmarks.

Amicalola Falls, regarded as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia, is Cherokee for “tumbling waters.” The Etowah River, the main water supply for the county, means “town” or “tribe” in Creek.

But once a shiny nugget of gold was discovered just up the way, it didn’t take long for settlers to arrive in droves in hopes of striking it rich in the north Georgia hills. Before the California Gold Rush of 1849, Georgia had the claim to fame with the first gold rush in the 1830s.

In Lumpkin County, Benjamin Parks made a startling discovery that paved the way for thousands of settlers to make a home for themselves in Dawson County. Word traveled fast and soon droves of prospectors were clamoring at the chance to strike it rich, many of which settled in the areas surrounding Dahlonega including the future site of Dawson County.

When news of gold in California reached the ears of Georgia miners, many decided to pack their bags and embarked on the chance for fortune and glory in the west, though many were content to stay in the temperate north Georgia mountains making a meager living as either farmers or miners.

It certainly wasn’t a glamorous existence as the new settlers to the area worked to carve out livelihoods for themselves. By the time Dawson County was created as the 119th county of Georgia, census records show many families were small farmers, growing small plots of corn, wheat, oats, and of course, cotton.

Dawson County was one of the fortunate areas in Georgia during the Civil War. When conflict broke out, the county was spared from the battlefield, although like other southern communities, many husbands and sons were sent to the front lines.

After the war ended, the south was ravaged by poverty and bloodshed. It was time to pick up the pieces and make a living once more, but it certainly wasn’t easy.

By the turn of the century and with the invention of the automobile, Dawson County made a name for itself with its illegal production of moonshine.

To make ends meet, many people turned to making moonshine as a way to feed their families.

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Now

DAWSON Moonshine, an illegal high-proof alcohol typically made with corn mash, was a quick but albeit risky way to bring home the bacon.

During the Prohibition Era (1919-1933), moonshiners sold their ‘shine, or “White Lightning,” on the black market to buyers in Atlanta.

Trippers were responsible for hauling the illegal homebrew without getting caught by the revenue agents, known as the Revenuers.

Secretly producing and transporting moonshine was dangerous in itself, but once the Revenuers

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caught wind of the Trippers, suddenly the illicit trade added an element of racing to shake the authorities off their tails.

The “Moonshine Capital of the World” became responsible for the evolution of stock car racing. Bets were taken on whose tripper and liquor cars were the fastest. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, stock car racing became a popular sport and paved the way for NASCAR. To this day, Dawson County is still prevalent in the NASCAR world. Some of the earliest stock

The county certainly looks different from its humble beginnings ... but its citizens’ commitment to being good neighbors willing to lend a helping hand is what keeps attracting people to this rich area.

car heroes hailing from Dawsonville were Lloyd Seay, Roy Hall, Gober Sosebee and Bernard Long.

Then the Elliott family arrived on the scene in the 1970s when “Wild Bill from Dawsonville” became a household name in NASCAR. Now, Bill’s son, Chase Elliott, is making a name for himself and carrying on the family legacy in the NASCAR circuit.

Dawson County still holds its NASCAR roots near and dear to its heart. At the Dawsonville Pool Room, memorabilia from decades of racing adorns

the walls and a siren always sounds when Chase wins a race. Just down the road, the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame sits next to Dawsonville City Hall, full of rooms of photographs and memorabilia collected from the earliest days of racing to now.

The county certainly looks different from its humble beginnings, first as Native American territory then as a hotbed for moonshine and stock cars, but its citizens’ commitment to being good neighbors willing to lend a helping hand is what keeps attracting people to this rich area.

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FOOD Spotlight on: The Pool Room

Takoz Express takozexpress.com (706) 203-1128 30 Industrial Park Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534 Hours: 10-8 Mon-Sat Closed Sunday

Papa’s Place papasplacega.com (706) 265-6194 3651 Dawson Forest Rd E Dawsonville, GA 30534 Hours: 6:30-9 Mon-Sat 6:30-3 Sun The Dawsonville Pool Room has long been an established hangout for racing fans.

Owned by Gordon Pirkle, known as “Mr. Dawson County,” the eatery offers a family atmosphere and a collection of memorabilia from Bill Elliott’s NASCAR career as well as history and photographs from early moonshine runners. It is a must see for racing fans and history buffs. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Pool Room offers American cuisine and is famous for its made-from-scratch Bully Burgers and fresh cut fries. As the unofficial NASCAR headquarters of Dawsonville, you’ll often hear the loud siren perched atop the restaurant as it sounds off to signal a NASCAR victory from Dawsonville’s racing legends.

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The Pool Room (706) 265-2792 9 Bill Elliott Street Dawsonville, GA 30534 Hours: 6:30-10 Mon-Thu 6:30-11 Fri-Sat 8-10 Sun

Because Coffee because.coffee (470) 869-0550 240 Dawson Village STE 100 Dawsonville, GA 30534

Spotlight on: Because Coffee

Hours: 7 ­- 6 Mon, Wed-Fri 7 - 8 Tue 8 - 3 Sat Closed Sunday

The Blue Bicycle bluebicycle.net (706) 265-2153 30 Industrial Park Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534 Hours: 11-4 Tue-Thu (Lunch) 4-9 Tue-Thu (Dinner 11-4 Fri-Sat (Lunch) 4-10 Fri-Sat (Dinner) Closed Sun, Mon

Friends Sports Grill friendsamericangrill.com (706) 216-2800 837 Hwy 400 South Suite 175 Dawsonville, GA 30534 Hours: 11-11 Mon-Thu 11-12 Fri-Sat 11-9 Sun

Because Coffee is a local coffee shop that opened in Dawsonville in May 2019 and is the only local shop that roasts its own coffee. Because Coffee offers several different variations of coffee, with three house blends to satisfy your cravings for light, medium or dark roasts. The shop also offers a coffee selection from across the globe including: Kenya, Mexico, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Brazil and a sugar cane decaf, all served up in the shop’s French presses. Bags of whole or ground coffee beans, mugs, apparel and French presses can be purchased at Because Coffee.

&

BREW

Our favorite spots to stop for a bite and a drink

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Why Dawson?

During the summer, the City of Dawsonville hosts Food Truck Friday on the first Friday of the month.

Over the last few months, we have spoken with to several people to ask them why they love living in Dawson County.

Their answers are included over the next few pages. We think that these conversations illustrate the very best parts of life in Dawson.

Hopefully you’ll find your own reasons for loving life here, and we’d love to hear from you if you do!

Whether it be the rural landscapes, the amazing hiking trails, the shopping options, or the relaxed pace of life that drew you to the county, we’re pretty sure you’re going to find another reason to love it: the people.

Without fail, the people we interviewed mentioned the great neighbors that live in Dawson County.

So take a look at what some of your new neighbors are saying about the community! We hope to see you out there!

Since 1964

for all your propane needs!

We are proud and honored to serve the Dawson County community.

Excellent Service!

Family Owned and Operated

It is the mission of the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office to protect the lives and property of our people through professional, progressive, and proactive service. We shall serve with compassion and respect while seeking solutions to improve quality of life, liberty, and safety for all.

We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to serve you!

Visit us on Facebook @ Dawson County Sheriff’s Office Dawsonville, Ga www.dawsoncountysheriff.org Non-Emergency 706-344-3636

Sheriff Jeff Johnson

Tip Line- 706-265-4744

Mills Fuel Service, Inc. Cumming 770-887-5235 Dawsonville 706-265-3394 Dahlonega 706-864-5037

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Mayor Mike Eason Has lived in Dawson for 7 years Why Dawson?

The City of Dawsonville feels like a very small town, though it’s got a lot of people in it. It’s just comfortable. Everybody’s friendly here. People wave at you, they shake hands with you, they talk to you.

That’s what you miss when you get in a larger environment.

Favorite Hidden Gem? The Atlanta Motorsports Park

Everything you need to have an exciting experience of shooting sporting clays and upland hunting.

Etowah Valley is committed to the Perpetuation of the Family Shooting Sports with the Bonding and Values they instill.

Check out our new & improved clays courses!

Hunting starts October 1st, get ready now!

Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch September 14th - November 17th

Haunt Nights October 4th - November 2nd Friday & Saturday nights ONLY.

Columbus Day October 14th, 2019 Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Scouts B.S.A. Weekend, September, 28-29 Camp out will be held on that Saturday night

Foster Family Day Girl Scout Weekend September 15th October 5-6 Open 10 a.m. - 10p.m.

Veterans Weekend, November 8th-10th www.etowahvalleysportingclays.com

www.etowahvalleygamepreserve.com

619 Sporting Hill Drive • Dawsonville, GA 30534

706-265-1611 • 678-410-0983

Veterans get a free admission!

770-772-6223 • uncleshucks.com NEW LOCATION: 125 Bannister Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534 We offer special programs for groups & schools.

Call for more information.

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Missy Wilson Has lived in Dawson for 25 years Why Dawson?

I love the people and the small town. I like everything about it. I’m a hairdresser and I really love my clients.

Favorite Hidden Gem? Fajita Grill

Randy Harkness Has lived in Dawson for 40 years Why Dawson?

Everybody knows everybody. I try to know most everybody but it’s hard. It’s a good small town.

Favorite Hidden Gem? The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame

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The Brians Have lived in Dawson for 8 years Why Dawson?

Before it was really growing, it was a really small town. But even as it grows, there are still pockets of that small town life just a few minutes off of 400. We grew up in Forsyth, but moved up here for the schools.

Favorite Hidden Gem? Edge of the World

st y! a f a e ak l l D r B dA rve Se

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NEW ONLINE ORDERING AT WWW.PAPASPLACEGA.COM (With Drive Thru Window)

HOURS Mondays – Saturdays: 6:30 am – 9:00 pm Sundays: 6:30 am – 3:00 pm

3651 Dawson Forest Road • 706-265-6194 LOCATED BEHIND OUTLET MALL AT ROUND ABOUT www.papasplacega.com

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AUGUST

COMMUNITY EVENTS

31: 10th annual Labor Day Car Show at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 14: Opening day of Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

125 Bannister Road (near Rock Creek Park) 14: Opening Day at Fausett Farms (sunflowers) 11336 Hwy 136 West 28: Opening of the Annual Quilt Exhibit at the Bowen Center for the Arts Opening reception 1-3 p.m.

OCTOBER 25-27: Mountain Moonshine Festival in downtown Dawsonville 31: Trunk-or-Treat at Rock Creek Park, 4-7 p.m.

NOVEMBER 11: Veterans Day Parade, downtown Dawsonville, 5 p.m.

DECEMBER 7: Breakfast with Santa at Rock Creek Park 8-11 a.m.

7: Annual Christmas Parade, Jingle Market and Tree Lighting in downtown Dawsonville, 5 p.m. Tree Lighting is held at dusk.

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MONTHLY EVENTS: Chamber luncheon: Second Thursday of each month, 30 Main St., Dawsonville, 11:30 a.m.

Cruz-In Downtown Dawsonville: Third Friday of the month, 5 p.m.

Chamber Business After Hours: Fourth Tuesday of each month, location varies, 5 to 7 p.m.

EPIC Day at Rock Creek Park – 10 a.m. on third Thursdays each month

ANNUAL EVENTS: Spring: Chamber of Commerce Gala – March TBA Pups in the Park, TBA All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast, TBA Spring Sports Opening day festival at Rock Creek Park, fourth Saturday in March, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

K.A.R.E. for Kids Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday before Easter at Veterans Memorial Park Relay for Life, April Wee Books Barn Dance, April Annual Ranger water jump at War Hill Park, May Food Truck Friday hosted by the city of Dawsonville first Friday of the month – begins in May Summer: Summer Reading Program at Dawson County Library – June-July Amicalola Regional Farmers Market at City Hall, every Friday in the summer - 3:30-7 p.m.

Celebrity Waiter Breakfast – June TBA Rotary Day at Rotary Island at Rock Creek Park, each June Sparks in the Motorsports Park, July 4, yearly ‘Shine Pedalers Metric, last Saturday in July Fall: Rotary Thanksgiving Dinner, Veterans Memorial Park – November TBA Winter: Wee Books Leap for Literacy, War Hill Park – February TBA

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COMMUNITY FACES

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