BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – A Banks County Superior Court judge has approved one temporary protective order and denied another against Maysville City Planner Luis Lopez, who was arrested on stalking charges in September. The rulings came Tuesday following hearings on petitions filed by Maysville water billing clerk Victoria Mulvey and City Clerk Kim Jackson, both […]

HOMER, Ga. — Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed is defending his office’s decision not to release certain records related to the use of Flock Safety license plate-reading technology, saying the records are protected from disclosure under Georgia law. The statement comes amid an ongoing dispute between the Banks County Sheriff’s Office and a publication over […]

ALTO, Ga. — A woman was critically injured after suffering severe burns when a brush fire became uncontrollable Saturday in Banks County, according to fire officials. Banks County Fire and Emergency Services crews were dispatched around 10:30 a.m. Sept. 19 to a property at 244 Hidden Valley Drive in Alto for a reported brush fire. […]

GEORGIA – A Georgia man in need of an emergency heart transplant was added to the transplant waiting list after a state senator intervened with his insurance company, a sequence of events that ultimately led to him receiving a donated heart later that same day, according to an investigation by Kaitlyn Ross of 11Alive News. […]

COMMERCE, Ga. — Fire officials are investigating a suspected arson after a structure fire caused minor damage to a residence on Spring Lake Road early Monday morning. Units with Banks County Fire and Emergency Services were dispatched to 164 Spring Lake Road at approximately 2:57 a.m. Aug. 31 following a report of a structure fire. […]

GEORGIA — Republican leaders and supporters from across Georgia are set to gather in Warner Robins this weekend for the Central Georgia Fish Fry 2026. The Houston, Peach and Bibb County Republican parties will present the event on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Roy H. “Sonny” Watson Health Pavilion, […]

BANKS COUNTY, Ga. — A stolen vehicle alert led to a police pursuit and the arrest of a 40-year-old man in Banks County on Aug. 13, according to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies received a Flock license plate reader alert indicating that a stolen vehicle was traveling through the county. Deputies located the vehicle […]

COMMERCE, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified the man critically injured in an officer-involved shooting in Commerce as 22-year-old Levi Long of Commerce. According to the GBI, Long remains in critical condition following the incident, which occurred on the evening of Thursday, July 16. The GBI said the Commerce Police Department requested […]

HOMER, Ga. — Three men have been arrested and charged in connection with an armed robbery reported at a Banks County convenience store, according to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office. The alleged robbery occurred on Wednesday, June 10, at Homertown Grocery, located on Georgia Highway 51 at Sycamore Street in Homer. Deputies responded to the […]

Congratulations Class of 2026! Here are just a few highlights from this year: Check out the video!

BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – At the request of the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Banks County, GA. One man was shot and killed in the incident. No deputies were injured. Preliminary information indicates that at about 4:20 a.m., on April 8, 2026, Banks County Sheriff’s Office deputies […]

BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – The GBI has arrested and charged Haminton Cuadros, age 34, of Commerce, Banks County, GA, with 3 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children. In November 2025, the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit (CEACC) began an investigation into Cuadros’ online activity after receiving a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center […]

BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – The Hall County School District confirmed Friday afternoon that a Chestatee High School Spanish teacher arrested last week on rape and child molestation charges in Banks County is no longer employed by the district. Felipe Esteban Nunez, 32, of Gainesville, had been employed at Chestatee High School since September 2024. He […]