The Dahlonega Nugget

The Dahlonega Nugget www.TheDahlonegaNugget.com The Dahlonega Nugget has been around for a while. Since before Facebook, even. McNelley and S.H. Williams. Goley Townsend, to help him.
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The first hand-cranked, four-page issue of The Nugget rolled off the press March 14, 1890, under the editing and proprietorship of William G. No one knows what happened to the first issue, but all following issues are on microfilm at the local Lumpkin County Library. The Nugget gained national and international acclaim after William Benjamin Franklin Townsend became publisher in 1897. With $2.50 i

n borrowed money, he leased the printing equipment and started an enterprise that has stood the test of time. Townsend's columns were picked up and reprinted by metropolitan newspapers and magazines throughout the United States and Canada. A few days after his 76th birthday, Townsend set the type for his last column. “Ye editor is sick,” it read, and before the next issue, Townsend died. The Nugget was passed down to Townsend's son, Jody, who recruited his uncle, J. After owning the newspaper 11 years, Jody sold it to William M. and Mary Lou B. Smith in 1944. The Smiths did not last long at the newspaper. Most of their energies were devoted to The Smith House, which today is still a must-see and renowned restaurant in Dahlonega, and to founding a school for underprivileged children. Their less-than-tactful editorials against keeping chickens and pigs in town caused many to cancel their subscriptions. The Smiths sold The Nugget in 1946 after missing three issues for the only time in its history. The new owner was 24-year-old Frances Conner, who had worked for The Atlanta Journal before purchasing The Nugget. Under her guidance, circulation climbed to 1,000 from the Smiths' lowest total of 376. The Nugget's next publisher, Jack Parks, restored the paper to the national notice it had enjoyed during W.B. Townsend's tenure. Parks took over on The Nugget's 58th anniversary, March 4, 1949. Parks had the same homespun style that had made the paper so nationally popular under Townsend's editorship. The Nugget was often quoted in the Atlanta dailies. He remained as owner and publisher until 1981, when he sold The Nugget to Community Newspapers, Inc. He stayed on until his retirement in 1982. The Nugget had three editors in the span between 1982 and 1996: Mike Pendleton, Dorsey Martin, who was editor for 10 years, and Joe Kisselburg. In 1996, Terrie Ellerbee stepped into the role as the new Nugget editor. A few years later, in 1998, she took on the position of publisher as well. She served in this duel role for more than 10 years before resigning in 2008. In May of the same year, Wayne Knuckles took the helm as the Nugget's editor/publisher. Six years later he passed the baton to Matt Aiken who was first employed at The Nugget as a reporter in 2005. Aiken remained as publisher for a little more than eight years before moving to the job of Executive Editor and passing the title to longtime Nugget associate John Bynum in August of 2022.

Cover photo contest is now open for Lake Living magazine. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6. Qual...
06/05/2024

Cover photo contest is now open for Lake Living magazine. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6.
Qualifying images should be submitted via email to [email protected]. Please include photographer’s contact information and where and when the photo was taken in your email.
The magazine is looking for photos that represent summertime at one of Northeast Georgia’s beautiful lakes. Summer at the lake is a great way to relax, enjoy a wide array of recreation opportunities and make family memories that last a lifetime.
A winning photo will be featured on the cover of the magazine’s summer 2024 edition.
Lake Living is a full-color regional guide to Northeast Georgia’s lakes.
Community Newspapers Inc. Chairman Alan NeSmith invites local photographers to submit their photographic representations these lakes.
Subjects could include points of interest, natural features, scenic views or people enjoying the lakes.
The magazine publishes the week of June 24 and will be distributed at visitor centers, chambers of commerce and retail outlets throughout the region during summer.
The winner of the cover contest will receive $100.
Criteria for entering:
• Photograph must be taken at a lake in Lumpkin, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union or White counties.
• Photographer can submit up to five images.
• Photographer should submit a vertical image.
• Image should be of summer scenery.
• Photographer should send high-quality, high-resolution image files. Photos must not be downsized, and should be no smaller than 1.5MB. Photos should be clear and in focus.
• Photos should have room at the top for the magazine logo.
• Photography must not include a commercial entity.
• Submission of a photo gives Community Newspapers Inc. the right to publish the photo in Lake Living magazine.
• Each entry should include the photographer's name, where and when the photo was taken, and the names of any people in the photo, if possible.
For more information, call NeSmith at 706-778-4215.

06/05/2024

School is out and The Nugget is ready for summer! Read about the new Middle School principle, the opening of the Whataburger, athletics awards for LCHS and UNG, and more inside this week’s edition!

Cover photo contest is now open for Lake Living magazine. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6. Qual...
05/23/2024

Cover photo contest is now open for Lake Living magazine. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6.
Qualifying images should be submitted via email to [email protected]. Please include photographer’s contact information and where and when the photo was taken in your email.
The magazine is looking for photos that represent summertime at one of Northeast Georgia’s beautiful lakes. Summer at the lake is a great way to relax, enjoy a wide array of recreation opportunities and make family memories that last a lifetime.
A winning photo will be featured on the cover of the magazine’s summer 2024 edition.
Lake Living is a full-color regional guide to Northeast Georgia’s lakes.
Community Newspapers Inc. Chairman Alan NeSmith invites local photographers to submit their photographic representations these lakes.
Subjects could include points of interest, natural features, scenic views or people enjoying the lakes.
The magazine publishes the week of June 24 and will be distributed at visitor centers, chambers of commerce and retail outlets throughout the region during summer.
The winner of the cover contest will receive $100.
Criteria for entering:
• Photograph must be taken at a lake in Lumpkin, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union or White counties.
• Photographer can submit up to five images.
• Photographer should submit a vertical image.
• Image should be of summer scenery.
• Photographer should send high-quality, high-resolution image files. Photos must not be downsized, and should be no smaller than 1.5MB. Photos should be clear and in focus.
• Photos should have room at the top for the magazine logo.
• Photography must not include a commercial entity.
• Submission of a photo gives Community Newspapers Inc. the right to publish the photo in Lake Living magazine.
• Each entry should include the photographer's name, where and when the photo was taken, and the names of any people in the photo, if possible.
For more information, call NeSmith at 706-778-4215.

05/23/2024

Students and teachers celebrated the conclusion of a fun 2023-24 school year this week and looked forward to the beginning of summer break!

Week One of Primary early voting is in the books. As of Wednesday, May 8, a total of 1,324 ballots have been cast in th...
05/08/2024

Week One of Primary early voting is in the books. As of Wednesday, May 8, a total of 1,324 ballots have been cast in the race that will ultimately decide a variety of local offices including the Lumpkin County Sheriff, County Chairman and District 2 County Commissioner.
An official report from the election office shows that a steady stream of local residents showed up at 56 Short Street throughout the first week, with about 200 voters a day casting a ballot.
Early voting will continue on weekdays until Friday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
There will be one more day of Saturday voting on May 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The official voting day will take place Tuesday, May 21 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lumpkin County Parks & Rec on Riley Road.

04/25/2024

This week in The Nugget, the new Pool & Rec. Center is only a month away from opening. Major improvements to the UNG drill field are unveiled. The County is developing a new wastewater treatment plant for the GA400 Corridor. Get the details about all this and much more in the April 24 edition of the newspaper.

The photo contest for the cover of the new Mountain Traveler magazine is now underway. Deadline for submissions is May ...
04/21/2024

The photo contest for the cover of the new Mountain Traveler magazine is now underway. Deadline for submissions is May 9.
Summer in Northeast Georgia is a great time for camping, attending a fun festival or planning a day trip for hiking or biking.
If you have a photograph that represents this beautiful time of year, it could be featured on the cover of The Mountain Traveler’s summer 2024 edition.
The Mountain Traveler is a full-color regional visitor and travel guide for Northeast Georgia.
Publisher Alan NeSmith invites local photographers to submit their photographic representations of spring and summer in the region.
Suggested subjects could include points of interest, natural features, scenic views or people enjoying the surroundings.
The magazine publishes the week of May 23 and will be distributed at visitor centers, chambers of commerce and retail outlets throughout the region during spring and summer.
The winner of the cover contest will receive $100.
Criteria for entering:
• Photograph must be taken in Lumpkin, Dawson, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union or White counties.
• Photographer may submit up to five images.
• Photographer should submit vertical images.
• Photographs must be high resolution.
• Photographer should leave room at the top of the image for the magazine logo.
• Photography must not include a commercial entity.
• Submission of a photo gives Community Newspapers Inc. the right to publish the photo in The Mountain Traveler magazine.
• Each entry should include the photographer’s name and county of residence, where and when the photo was taken, and the names of any people in the photo, if possible.
Qualifying images should be submitted via email to [email protected].
For more information, call NeSmith at 706-778-4215.

The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual State of the State luncheon today. State Sen. Steve G...
04/19/2024

The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual State of the State luncheon today. State Sen. Steve Gooch and State Rep. Will Wade updated a packed crowd on all of this year’s legislative session news.

A large crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lumpkin location last Saturd...
04/16/2024

A large crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lumpkin location last Saturday. Elected officials, community leaders, and friends and family gathered to mark the beginning of the new era in local healthcare. The new location is off GA-400 just south of the Highway 60 intersection. The new 66,000-square-foot facility replaces the old hospital on the hill in Dahlonega. Check out more info in the April 17 edition of The Nugget.

Spaghetti Supper fundraiser for Jeremiah’s Place is Tuesday, April 16, 5:00-7:30 p.m. Help support Lumpkin County’s tra...
04/12/2024

Spaghetti Supper fundraiser for Jeremiah’s Place is Tuesday, April 16, 5:00-7:30 p.m. Help support Lumpkin County’s transitional housing program for homeless individuals and families. Dine in or take out. Several churches participating: Berea Baptist Church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Dahlonega Baptist Church, Dahlonega Methodist Church, Foothills Fellowship Church, St. Luke Catholic Church, The Bridge Church, The Fountain Church and The Torch Church (take-out only). Tickets available through host churches or online at eventbrite.com. Individual ($12) and family ($35) tickets will be available. Pictured: Last year, Suzanne Crossan was ready with the chocolate chip cookies at last year’s event.

04/09/2024

Pick up your new copy of The Nugget for all the latest local news. Plus, the new DAHLONEGA Magazine is included! 📖🤩

PHOTO CONTEST!! Deadline is April 5 for cover submissions for Lake Living magazine.The selected photo will be featured o...
03/28/2024

PHOTO CONTEST!! Deadline is April 5 for cover submissions for Lake Living magazine.
The selected photo will be featured on the cover of the magazine’s spring 2024 edition.
Lake Living is a full-color regional guide to Northeast Georgia’s lakes, and Community Newspapers Inc. Chairman Alan NeSmith invites local photographers to submit their photographic representations these lakes.
Subjects could include points of interest, natural features, scenic views or people enjoying the lakes.
The magazine publishes the week of April 22 and will be distributed at visitor centers, chambers of commerce and retail outlets throughout the region during summer.
The winner of the cover contest will receive $100.
Criteria for entering:
• Photograph must be taken at a lake in Lumpkin, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union or White counties.
• Photographer can submit up to five images.
• Photographer should submit a vertical image.
• Image should be of spring or summer scenery.
• Photographer should send high-quality, high-resolution image files. Photos must not be downsized, and should be no smaller than 1.5MB. Photos should be clear and in focus.
• Photos should have room at the top for the magazine logo.
• Photography must not include a commercial entity.
• Submission of a photo gives Community Newspapers Inc. the right to publish the photo in Lake Living magazine.
• Each entry should include the photographer's name, where and when the photo was taken, and the names of any people in the photo, if possible.
The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Friday, April 5.
Qualifying images should be submitted via email to [email protected]. Please include photographer’s contact information and where and when the photo was taken in your email.
For more information, call NeSmith at 706-778-4215.

03/27/2024

This week’s Dahlonega Nugget is packed with local news!

03/13/2024

It’s a week for winners in The Nugget! Check out the UNG Mens Basketball team as they enter the NCAA DII tournament. Also, local election contenders are set. The City eyes downtown murals. And FCA is encouraging students on campus, plus much more!

What an amazing turnout for the 3rd annual Sunrise Rotary Wimpy Mile! Chilly temperatures didn’t stop a big crowd of ru...
02/19/2024

What an amazing turnout for the 3rd annual Sunrise Rotary Wimpy Mile! Chilly temperatures didn’t stop a big crowd of runners, walkers, and even pets from enjoying a sunny morning in support of over a dozen local charities.

The Dahlonega Nugget is preparing to shine the light on local businesses. This special section is dedicated to the lead...
02/16/2024

The Dahlonega Nugget is preparing to shine the light on local businesses. This special section is dedicated to the leaders and employees who are driving Lumpkin County businesses and industries forward. Ad deadline: Feb. 21, Publication date: Feb. 28. Call today to reserve your place! 706-864-3613 -lumpkincounty

The Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club will host the 3rd annual Wimpy Mile fundraiser on Saturday, February 17 beginning at 9...
02/15/2024

The Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club will host the 3rd annual Wimpy Mile fundraiser on Saturday, February 17 beginning at 9 a.m. in Hancock Park. Wimpy Mile is USATF Certified and is the fastest mile in Dahlonega! The event is a great PR opportunity for runners and a fun scenic downhill course for walkers and families. Dogs are welcome too! Race proceeds benefit local charities. For race info and registration visit runsignup.com/wimpymile

The Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club will host the 3rd annual Wimpy Mile fundraiser on Saturday, February 17 beginning at 9...
02/08/2024

The Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club will host the 3rd annual Wimpy Mile fundraiser on Saturday, February 17 beginning at 9 a.m. in Hancock Park. Wimpy Mile is USATF Certified and is the fastest mile in Dahlonega! The event is a great PR opportunity for runners and a fun scenic downhill course for walkers and families. Dogs are welcome too! Race proceeds benefit local charities. For race info and registration visit runsignup.com/wimpymile

The Dahlonega Nugget is preparing to shine the light on local businesses. This special section is dedicated to the lead...
02/07/2024

The Dahlonega Nugget is preparing to shine the light on local businesses. This special section is dedicated to the leaders and employees who are driving Lumpkin County businesses and industries forward. Ad deadline: Feb. 14, Publication date: Feb. 21. Call today to reserve your place! 706-864-3613 -lumpkincounty

12/02/2023

A big crowd enjoyed the annual Breakfast with Santa hosted by the Lumpkin County Sheriffs Office at the R-ranch.

11/30/2023

Celebrate the lighting of the square and much more in this week’s edition of The Nugget!

11/15/2023

There are so many things to celebrate in this week’s newspaper! From Veterans to Region Champions! Get your copy of The Nugget this week! 🇺🇸

11/07/2023

The University of North Georgia women’s soccer team defeated Georgia Southwestern 3-0 on Monday in Dahlonega to advance to the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference tournament.

Your photo could be on the cover of Lake Living magazine!With frost, clear skies and sparkling cold waters, winter on No...
11/01/2023

Your photo could be on the cover of Lake Living magazine!
With frost, clear skies and sparkling cold waters, winter on Northeast Georgia lakes can be stunningly beautiful.
Lake Living magazine is looking for photos that represent this scenic time of year at the lake. The selected photo will be featured on the cover of the magazine’s winter 2023 edition.
Lake Living is a full-color regional guide to Northeast Georgia’s lakes, and Community Newspapers Inc.
Chairman Alan NeSmith invites local photographers to submit their photographic representations these lakes.
Subjects could include points of interest, natural features or scenic views. Photographs including people enjoying the lakes will be given additional consideration.
The magazine publishes the week of Nov. 20 and will be distributed at visitor centers, chambers of commerce and retail outlets throughout the region during summer.
The winner of the cover contest will receive $100.
Criteria for entering:
• Photograph must be taken at a lake in Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White, or Lumpkin counties.
• Photographer can submit up to five images.
• Photographer should submit a vertical image.
• Image should be of winter scenery.
• Photographer should send high-quality, high-resolution image files. Photos must not be downsized, and should be no smaller than 1.5MB. Photos should be clear and in focus.
• Photos should have room at the top for the magazine logo.
• Photography must not include a commercial entity.
• Submission of a photo gives Community Newspapers Inc. the right to publish the photo in Lake Living magazine.
• Each entry should include the photographer's name, where and when the photo was taken, and the names of any people in the photo, if possible.
The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6.
Please include photographer’s contact information and where and when the photo was taken.
For more information, call NeSmith at 706-778-4215.
Qualifying images should be submitted via email to [email protected].

It was a busy weekend in Dahlonega, including the popular Gold Rush Days festival!
10/25/2023

It was a busy weekend in Dahlonega, including the popular Gold Rush Days festival!

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School is out and The Nugget is ready for summer! Read about the new Middle School principle, the opening of the Whataburger, athletics awards for LCHS and UNG, and more inside this week’s edition! #localnewspaper #dahlonega #dahlonegageorgia #lumpkincounty #whataburger #lumpkinschools #lumpkinmiddleschool #cityofdahlonega #mountaineducation #dahlonegasunriserotary #lakezwerner #dahlonegamainstreet #mondaysonmain #tlcanimalshelter #lumpkincountylibrary #lumpkincountyhighschool #blitzcup2024 #lumpkinparkandrec #pinetreereccenter #ungathletics #northgeorgiaathletics #peachbeltconference #lumpkinbaseball

Students and teachers celebrated the conclusion of a fun 2023-24 school year this week and looked forward to the beginning of summer break! #lumpkinschools #lumpkincounty #cottrellelementary #summerbreak #lumpkinelementary

This week in The Nugget, the new Pool & Rec. Center is only a month away from opening. Major improvements to the UNG drill field are unveiled. The County is developing a new wastewater treatment plant for the GA400 Corridor. Get the details about all this and much more in the April 24 edition of the newspaper. #localnewspaper #lumpkincounty #dahlonegageorgia #lumpkinschools

Pick up your new copy of The Nugget for all the latest local news. Plus, the new DAHLONEGA Magazine is included! 📖🤩 #localnewspaper #thenugget #dahlonegamagazine #lumpkincounty #smalltownnewspaper

This week’s Dahlonega Nugget is packed with local news! #dahlonega #lumpkincounty #localnewspaper #thedahloneganugget #smalltownnewspaper

It’s a week for winners in The Nugget! Check out the UNG Mens Basketball team as they enter the NCAA DII tournament. Also, local election contenders are set. The City eyes downtown murals. And FCA is encouraging students on campus, plus much more! #lchsindians #lumpkinhighschool #skillsusa #lumpkincounty #cityofdahlonega #ungfca #ungmensbasketball #pbcchampions #lionsclub #lumpkinchamberofcommerce #lumpkinbaseball #lchsbaseball #lchstrackandfield #lchssoccer #lumpkinsoccer #lumpkintennis #ungsoftball #ungbaseball #localnewspaper #dahlonega #dahlonegaga

A big crowd enjoyed the annual Breakfast with Santa hosted by the Lumpkin County Sheriffs Office at the R-ranch. #breakfastwithsanta #rranchinthemountains #lumpkinsheriffsoffice #dahlonegachristmas #christmasactivities #christmas2023

Celebrate the lighting of the square and much more in this week’s edition of The Nugget! #dahlonega #lumpkincounty #dahlonegachristmas #lchsindians #lumpkincountyhighschool #smalltownlife #ungdahlonega #oldfashionedchristmas

There are so many things to celebrate in this week’s newspaper! From Veterans to Region Champions! Get your copy of The Nugget this week! #localnewspaper #dahlonega #lumpkincounty #veteransday🇺🇸 #ungpresident #lumpkinsports #cityofdahlonega

Lumpkin Country football is battling White County in a late season Region 7-AAA showdown! #lchs #lumpkinfootball #lchsfootball🏈 #lumpkincountyhigh #highschoolfootball

The Lumpkin County Band of Gold put on a great show for the home fans! #bandofgold #lchsbandofgold #lumpkincountyband #dahlonega #lumpkinfootball

Students at Cottrell Elementary entertained guests during old fashioned day with their music! #cottrellelementary #elementaryschool #youngsingers

Lumpkin County 2nd graders were treated to a visit from former NFL star Malcolm Mitchell on Tuesday in a Reading Rally hosted by Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary. Mitchell, who is a former UGA football standout and Super Bowl champion, has also written three children’s books and travels to promote the benefits of reading. Nearly 300 2nd graders received one of Mitchell’s books, The Magician’s Hat, as part of their experience at the rally, as well as a copy of The Dahlonega Nugget and other gifts from local businesses. Mitchell graduated from UGA with a degree in Communications and later won the Super Bowl in 2017 with the New England Patriots. In 2015 he created Read with Malcolm, a youth literacy initiative. He founded Share the Magic Foundation in 2016 and was chosen Children’s Author of the Year by the Georgia Writers Association. The Foundation has served over 600,000 students. Last week’s event took place at the Lumpkin County High School auditorium. #cottrellelementary #longbranchelementary #blackburnelementary #lumpkincountyschools #malcolmmitchell #sharethemagicfoundation #youthliteracy #youngreadersbook #childrensauthors

After a close first half, Lumpkin County used a strong running game and tough defense to pull away from a talented Hart County team for a 30-10 victory at home tonight. #lumpkinfootball #lchsfootball #ghsafootball #lumpkinindians #dahlonegafootball

The Lumpkin County High School volleyball team defeated both Pickens and Gilmer on Aug. 22 by scores of 2 matches to 0. #lchsvolleyball #lchssports #lumpkincounty #lumpkinhs #lumpkinvolleyball #dahlonega

Lumpkin County School System celebrated the opening of the new Cottrell Elementary School for grades K-5. The school year begins in just over a week. #lumpkincounty #lumpkinschools #cottrellelementary #lumpkincountyschools #dahlonega

Lumpkin County School System celebrated the opening of the new Cottrell Elementary School for grades K-5. The school year begins in just over a week. #lumpkincounty #lumpkinschools #cottrellelementary #lumpkincountyschools #dahlonega

Enthusiastic crowds filled the streets of downtown Dahlonega for the annual Fourth of July parade! #july4th #fourthofjuly #july4th2023 #dahlonega #dahlonegaparade #downtowndahlonega

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Our Story

The Dahlonega Nugget has been around for a while. Since before Facebook, even. The first hand-cranked, four-page issue of The Nugget rolled off the press March 14, 1890. And though the names and faces have changed, we’ve been hard at work cranking out quality newspapers ever since. Though thankfully we have a printing press for that now. Check out our story right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCcUNFCtkfo