🌱 Patch AM: How a Gainesville gathering turned into a brutal machete assault

Hello again Gainesville! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Gainesville gathering turned into a brutal machete assault
• How a Gainesville High alum vanished without a trace on Blood Mountain
• Why Gainesville’s hospital just earned top marks for maternity care

Also on today's calendar: Homeschool Day: Appalachian Christmas and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Cooler with periods of rain, with a high of 52 and low of 44 degrees.
• Friday: Windy with plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 53, low: 30.
• Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 57 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Victim loses thumb after verbal argument escalates at Hall Co. residence (accesswdun.com) — A late-night gathering at a Floyd Road home in Gainesville ended with one man losing his thumb in an alleged machete attack, according to Hall County deputies. The victim was treated at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville, while the suspect remains jailed without bond on an aggravated battery charge and both men are being held on immigration-related detainers.
   

2. No trace on Blood Mountain: What happened to hiker on Appalachian Trail? (unionleader.com) — A Gainesville-raised attorney and beloved Gainesville High alum vanished last month while hiking Blood Mountain, despite massive search efforts stretching across Union County’s rugged terrain. Family, classmates, and friends with Gainesville roots keep returning to the mountain, clinging to memories of his frequent trips home and his deep ties to the community as they search for any trace of him.
   

3. These 7 GA Hospitals Are Ranked Among Best For Maternity Care (patch.com) — Expecting parents in Gainesville can take note: Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s Gainesville campus has been named one of Georgia’s best hospitals for maternity care and recognized for serving an at-risk community. The rankings, based on C-section rates, newborn complications, and breastfeeding support, help families compare options statewide as they decide where to deliver.
   

4. Detroit Tigers pitcher Reese Olson and wife Autumn get married (freep.com subscription) — Detroit Tigers pitcher Reese Olson recently married Autumn Tucker Olson, with their Dec. 6 ceremony held in Gainesville where he grew up. The piece notes his local roots while focusing on his recovery from a shoulder injury and expected role in the Tigers’ 2026 starting rotation.
   

5. National economic headwinds blow through Georgia, though job outlook steady for now (roughdraftatlanta.com) — Gainesville’s food and machinery producers are feeling the strain from national trade tensions, as a new University of Georgia forecast warns Georgia faces nearly even odds of recession. While jobs statewide are growing slowly and housing remains expensive, the report says Gainesville’s export-focused industries are particularly exposed to tariffs and global demand shifts.
   

📸 Around Gainesville

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Gainesville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday December 19

• Gainesville Glows: Lanterns & Lights
  Atlanta Botanical Garden, GAINESVILLE, 1911 Sweetbay Dr, Gainesville
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Homeschool Day: Appalachian Christmas
  322 Academy St NE , Gainesville
  10:00 am

Friday December 19

• Drop-In Garden Tours
  Atlanta Botanical Garden , 1345 Piedmont Ave NE , Atlanta
  1:30 pm
• Live Music — Cork It Gainesville
  Cork It Gainesville , 118 Main St SW , Gainesville
  7:00 pm
• Southern Stone Rock and Roll Band (Every Third Friday of the Month)
  American Legion, 2343 Riverside Dr, Gainesville, GA, 30501
  7:00 pm
• The Irish tenors
  The Hall at Bourbon Brothers , 312 Jesse Jewell Pkwy , Gainesville
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Frog Feeding
  Atlanta Botanical Garden , 1345 Piedmont Ave NE , Atlanta
  10:00 am
• Botanical Santa
  Atlanta Botanical Garden , 1345 Piedmont Ave NE , Atlanta
  10:00 am
• Holiday Ride-on Train
  Atlanta Botanical Garden , 1345 Piedmont Ave NE , Atlanta
  10:00 am
• Carols in the Garden
  Atlanta Botanical Garden , 1345 Piedmont Ave NE , Atlanta
  10:45 am

Wednesday December 31

• New Year's Eve Party
  American Legion, 2343 Riverside Dr, Gainesville, GA, 30501
  7:00 pm
• New Years Eve Party (Featuring 3 bands)
  American Legion, 2343 Riverside Dr, Gainesville, GA, 30501
  7:30 pm

📣 Gainesville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Gainesville PatchAM possible:

• Custom Canine Unlimited — (877) 799-4806
  Dog Training Near Gainesville GA

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Update: We found his family and they just picked him up!
  This friendly dog showed up at my house on December 15th. He has a rope collar and an invisible fence collar. I've fed and watered him and now he's… (Nextdoor Lula)
• Anyone missing this beautiful fur baby?
  Can't tell if it's a he/she & I don't see a collar. Likes to cut thru my yard then he stays down at our deer cameras all day then nothing all night… (Nextdoor Lula)

• Take a look at the scene as Gainesville High's football program got on the road for Wednesday's state championship against Thomas County Central in... (X: gtimes)
• The Gwinnett County Police Department says officers were recently able to rescue a young child with autism from a sewer drain in a park near Suwanee... (X: access_wdun)

• State of Georiga posted a job opening for LANIER TECHNICAL COLLEGE - Part Time PRACTICAL NURSING LAB ASSISTANT - Different campus locations available in Gainesville. Apply here.
• Kroger posted a job opening for Courtesy Clerk/Grocery Bagger in Gainesville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gainesville here.

Ok Gainesville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook