On Thursday, July 16, 2026, racing fans will flock to the town of Athens, Tenn. for the 19th annual Athens Chamber Benefit featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr. Known to fans as “Dale Jr.,” Earnhardt is a retired NASCAR driver and current broadcaster, podcaster and owner of JR Motorsports. Rob Preston, president and CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, said the event will be inspiring for everyone in the audience — not just NASCAR fans. “I ask our speakers to talk broadly about

Hamilton – Vitruvian Health will host the Friday, June 12, Off the Rails concert. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Burr Performing Arts Park, 101 South Hamilton Street and will include performances by Ryan Kuykendall at 6:30 p.m., Catfish and the Bottom at 7:30 p.m. and Monkeys on a String – Dave Matthews Tribute Band at 8:30 p.m. Giveaways and snacks, including Sweet Spot ice cream, will be available at the Hamilton tent until 8:30 p.m. Attendees may also enter to wi

The legendary Phillips Championship Rodeo is returning to Gordon County for its 47th annual event on June 19th and 20th. Hosted at the historic Phillips Arena (475 Mt. Zion Road NE, Resaca, GA), this long-standing community tradition promises two thrilling nights of professional rodeo action, family entertainment, and a deeply rooted mission of giving back. Gates open at 6:00 p.m., giving families plenty of time to enjoy pre-show activities before the main rodeo action kicks

On Saturday, May 23, 2026, well over 100 citizens packed the Gordon County Agricultural Services Center for a standing-room only meeting to discuss data centers, including their impact on communities, and what citizens can do to prevent them from Calhoun-Gordon County. The meeting was inspired after the Gordon Gazette reported in April that the City of Calhoun had identified a piece of property on Hwy. 53 Spur, just over 50 acres between Brookstone Subdivision and Fair’s Auto

GNTC student Kristen Garrett has received an Advocate Health Community Scholarship. Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) student Kristin Garrett has received a $5,000 Advocate Health Community Scholarship to help cover education costs as she pursues an associate degree in Respiratory Care. Garrett, a Rome resident, anticipates graduating in May 2027. She has been employed at Atrium Health Floyd in Rome as a public safety supervisor for more than three years. “Aft

An elderly woman was rescued from a burning home by Gordon County Fire Rescue firefighters on May 31, 2026 and was later airlifted to a metro-area burn center in critical condition. Gordon County Fire Rescue units from Stations 1, 5, and 6 responded to a reported residential structure fire with smoke and flames visible from the residence in the 4000 block of Rome Road SW. Upon arrival, firefighters found a single-story home heavily involved in fire, with flames extending thro

The American Red Cross has an urgent need for donors and is counting on people to act now and book a time to give lifesaving blood or platelets. Donors of all blood types are essential in keeping the blood supply strong enough to withstand summer challenges. Scheduled donations, which account for 90% of all blood donations, have dropped sharply in recent weeks. As a result, the blood supply has fallen by several thousand units in just a week, raising concerns that the decli

The Dalton-Whitfield NAACP is proud to announce its 8th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, a multi-event commemoration of freedom, culture, and community empowerment. This year’s festivities will culminate with the highly anticipated Juneteenth Gala on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 6pm. The Juneteenth Gala will be held at the Dalton Convention Center, located at 2211 Tony Ingle Parkway. As the centerpiece of the branch's annual celebration, the gala serves as a platform to honor t

Patty Hart, vice president of Economic Development at GNTC (left), and Leigh Ann Pettigrew, director of Student Success and campus manager of GNTC’s Whitfield Murray Campus, pose for a picture wearing personal protective equipment donated by J. J. Keller & Associates Inc. Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has received a large donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) to help improve student safety and provide training using industry-standard gear. J. J. Ke

For years, medical professionals have touted the benefits of breast milk for infants. According to the Cleveland Clinic, breast milk provides the ideal balance of nutrients, antibodies and enzymes especially suited to a baby's developing needs, supporting cognitive development, protecting against infections and lowering the risk of chronic conditions like asthma and obesity, while also offering recovery and long-term health benefits for the mother. For premature and medically

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) is hosting Open Houses at all six campuses to provide an opportunity to learn more about the programs offered at GNTC, tour the facilities and meet faculty and staff. The events will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. The locations and dates for the events include: Catoosa County Campus, Building A, Room 103, Thursday, June 4 Floyd County Campus, Building A, Room A141, Thursday, June 4 Gordon County Campus, Conference Center, Build

The AdventHealth Gordon Foundation recently awarded the healthcare careers scholarship to a local senior from Calhoun High School during the school’s annual senior scholarship awards night, recognizing a student whose academic achievements, leadership and commitment to serving others reflect the values of compassionate care and community impact. The scholarship was awarded to Daniela Sanchez for demonstrating excellence both inside and outside the classroom through academic