Proposed four-bed Level II NICU will strengthen care for mothers, babies, and families across Northwest Georgia CALHOUN, Ga. – Families in Gordon County and across Northwest Georgia are one step closer to having access to advanced newborn care closer to home. The Georgia Department of Community Health has issued AdventHealth Gordon a Certificate of Need to establish a four-bed Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit within the hospital’s existing Women’s Services Area. The appr

By: Melanie Dallas, LPC | CEO, Highland Rivers Behavioral Health Most of us probably know someone who has struggled with their mental health. We may notice they seem different. They’re quieter than usual, withdraw from friends, miss work or school, sleep more, or simply not act like themselves. Yet, even when we might notice something has changed, too many of us don’t know what to do next. The next step is one of the most important, but it is often the one people are most

Katie Chance, surgical nurse navigator, talks with nursing students at the recent Hamilton Medical Center nursing symposium. Hamilton Medical Center (HMC), part of Vitruvian Health, recently hosted its student symposium for nursing students across the region. The event, held twice a year since 2016, is designed to help future nurses confidently transition from student to professional practice. Nearly 80 RN and LPN students from Dalton State College and Georgia Northwestern

The Foundation at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) awarded $54,238 in grants and scholarships for fall semester 2026. Grant and scholarship awards ranged between $100 and $1,500 to assist in paying for fall semester at GNTC. Sixty-one grants and scholarships were awarded to 59 students. “We applaud these students for their excellence in the classroom and their steadfast commitment to their goals,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC. “Each student has a

Last year’s Unity Run winner, Demetrius Clavino. This year’s Unity Run will be held this Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. There is still time to register for the greatest run on earth! The United Way of Gordon County’s 33rd annual Bettye Butler Memorial Unity Run 5k will be held this Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. This year’s theme is ‘Under the Big Top. Presented by Hamilton Health Calhoun, the annual fundraising event for United Way of Gordon County raises money for their Gordon County C

The Calhoun community is coming together to take a stand against Alzheimer’s disease, one step at a time, during an Alzheimer’s Mini Walk at Morning Pointe of Calhoun on Saturday, Sept. 26. As a community providing assisted living and memory care, Morning Pointe of Calhoun serves local families every day, including those navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This community walk gives local families, friends, caregivers, residents and neighbors

The new office that houses Recovery Gordon is open, located at 654 Red Bud Road, Suite 4, in Calhoun, and was celebrated on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 with a ribbon cutting ceremony provided by the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. Recovery Gordon is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that is made up of community members whose lives have been affected by addiction. Offering support to those seeking or in recovery, as well as friends and families affected, Recovery Gordon began as an extensio

Anna Shaw Children’s Institute (ASCI) will host its Abilities Without Limits Conference & Expo (formerly known as the North Georgia Autism Conference) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Dalton Convention Center, 2211 Tony Ingle Parkway in Dalton. The event has been held annually for 11 years. The Abilities Without Limits Conference & Expo is a collaborative event designed to empower, educate and connect individuals who support people with differing abilities acro

GORDON COUNTY, GA, September 17, 2026. Gordon County Fire Rescue responded to two separate residential structure fires on September 16 and September 17, 2026. The first incident was reported on September 16, 2026, at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Hall Memorial Road, where Gordon County Fire Rescue was dispatched to a reported residential structure fire. Upon arrival, crews observed smoke coming from the residence. Firefighters quickly located and extinguished the fire. The fire

GNTC Cybersecurity student Ethan Queen (center) celebrates receiving Selena’s Scholarship; the scholarship honors the late Selena Magnusson, who was GNTC’s vice-president of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success. (From left) Randall Magnusson, Selena Magnusson’s father-in-law; Staci Brockwell, Selena Magnusson’s sister-in-law; Queen; Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC; and Leigh Anne Pettigrew, director of Workforce and Professional Training at GNTC and Selena Magn

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed eight human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in 2026, but that number is expected to increase. DPH has also confirmed one WNV death. Mosquito traps have tested positive in multiple counties, including Chatham, Fulton, and DeKalb. Mosquito season typically lasts through October, so Georgians are urged to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Most people infected with WNV do not develop symptoms. Others may

Kshama Bhyravabhotla, MD, recently joined Hamilton Physician Group – Specialty Care as a pulmonary and sleep medicine physician. She is also a critical care physician for Hamilton Medical Center. Bhyravabhotla says the most rewarding part of her job is her relationship with her patients. “Being able to educate patients so they're able to walk out of the office knowing exactly what’s going on with their body and feeling empowered to fight it is one of the best feelings,”