A gas leak at Gordon Central High School prompted the evacuation of the campus Thursday, according to Gordon County Schools officials. All students were reported safe and were either released to go home or transported to Ashworth. Classes and all after-school activities on the Gordon Central campus were canceled for the remainder of the day as a precaution. Atlanta Gas Light crews responded, identified the source of the leak, and are currently making repairs. School officials said additional updates will be shared later with students and parents as more information becomes available.
As Christmas and New Year’s approach, the Georgia Department of Transportation is urging motorists to plan ahead and travel safely during the busy holiday season. To help reduce congestion, Georgia DOT will temporarily suspend lane closures on interstates, major state routes, and roads near shopping areas from Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 6 a.m. through Sunday, Dec. 28, at 10 p.m., with a second suspension from Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 5 a.m. through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 5 a.m. While most construction-related closures will be lifted, some long-term or emergency closures may remain. Drivers are reminded to stay alert, obey posted signage, and expect increased traffic volumes statewide. Real-time updates are available through the Georgia DOT website and the 511GA app.
Gordon County Schools is helping support families during the Winter Holidays and Christmas Break by offering free Winter Holiday Meal Boxes to children across the community. Each box includes 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches per child and is available to all children ages 0–18, and up to age 21 for students with special needs. Families may participate even if they did not pre-register, with one box available per child. Meal box pickup is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 19, from 1 to 7 p.m. at multiple school locations throughout the county. School officials expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support local families during the holiday season.
The GEM Theatre is spreading holiday cheer this weekend with three nights of free Christmas movie favorites as part of its Free Christmas Movie Series. All films will be shown at 7 p.m. and are sponsored by local businesses. The lineup includes Lethal Weapon on Friday, Dec. 19, sponsored by CFL Creative Flooring Solutions; Home Alone on Saturday, Dec. 20, sponsored by Lindsey Carson, Realtor; and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York on Sunday, Dec. 21, sponsored by AdventHealth Gordon. Moviegoers are encouraged to support the VAC Canned Food Drive by bringing four canned food items in exchange for a free popcorn. All screenings are free and open to the public, offering a festive way for the community to celebrate the season together.
