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Months-long Oktoberfest celebration keeps North Georgia city’s traditions and businesses alive

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Months-long Oktoberfest celebration keeps North Georgia city’s traditions and businesses alive


It’s the busiest time of year in the German-inspired mountain town of Helen, Georgia—the 55th Oktoberfest celebration.

In Germany, the celebration of Bavarian culture and tradition lasts for slightly more than two weeks. In Helen, located only 90 miles northeast of Atlanta, Oktoberfest spans several months. 

In the 1960s, the town was a dying logging community, but over time, local businessmen, with the help of artist John Kollock, helped transform its economy and culture. What used to be normal buildings turned into a replica of a Bavarian town, complete with red roofs and even a windmill.

Now, families from throughout the Southeast travel to the small town to enjoy the celebration every year.

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Things in Helen slow down after the holidays, which is why Helen’s Chamber of Commerce added extra weekends to its Oktoberfest celebration.

The Oktoberfest season is big business for the small mountain town of Helen, Georgia.

CBS News Atlanta


Businesses keep busy during Oktoberfest

Local business owners like Trenika Jackson and Tamara Bryson are leaning into the tradition, tourists, and celebration. Together, they run Dottie’s Kitchen, a Southern Country restaurant dedicated to their grandmother.

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“This year we started in the middle of September, like Thursday through Sunday, and the last week of September… it starts through the entire week and it’ll end the first, second week of November,” Jackson said.

“We’ve been very fortunate. We stay very busy, especially through this time of year,” she said.

A musical tradition continues in North Georgia

The local business boom is not the only benefit of the extended Oktoberfest celebration. It’s also a North Georgia music staple, where artists like Dan Witucki and Claude Kashnig have set the mood for Oktoberfest for over 30 years.

“I’ve played in 17 countries and 38 states, and so in German circles, for Oktoberfest, I was sort of a big deal,” said Dan Witucki.

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Dan Witucki and the Big Deal Band has set the mood for Helen’s Oktoberfest for decades.

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CBS News Atlanta


Witucki’s band got its start at Disney World, at Epcot’s World Showcase, before taking its sound to Helen.

“What I like here is it’s still family-oriented, and so you see all these people here with their children,” Witucki said.

You can learn more about Helen and see things to do in the area here.

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Atlanta, GA

Norfolk Southern to lease short segment of Atlanta-area trackage to new short line

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Norfolk Southern to lease short segment of Atlanta-area trackage to new short line


ATLANTA — Jaguar Transport Holdings will lease 1.15 miles of track in the Atlanta area from Norfolk Southern to provide local switching, NS has announced.

In two filings with the Surface Transportation Board on March 31, Jaguar says it will operate the Northeast Atlanta Railroad on track in Doraville, Ga., in a deal expected to be completed on or after May



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Atlanta, GA

Apple turns 50 as new Atlanta exhibit showcases decades of innovation

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Apple turns 50 as new Atlanta exhibit showcases decades of innovation


Apple turns 50 on April 1, and if you have ever owned an iPod,  Mac, or iPhone, there’s a good chance it’s inside a new exhibit opening on Apple’s birthday.

“Inspire: 50 Years of Innovation From Apple” opens Wednesday at the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art, and it’s packed with nearly 2,000 products and artifacts.

Inside the exhibit, Apple’s story comes to life.

For museum founders Lonnie and Karin Mimms, it’s a story they have been building for 40 years, collecting nearly every apple product ever created. 

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But they don’t just want to show the world, they want to educate and inspire.

“We want people to come through these doors and to get an idea and say, okay, I’ve had an idea, I want to go do it,” said Karin Mimms.

Walk through and you see the evolution, starting with items owned by Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and their yearbooks.

“How did we get here? How did they start this company? They had a passion and we want to show that,” said Karin Mimms.

The artifacts date back to 1973, the oldest being the second check written to create the company.

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Then there’s the products everyone knows and loves, from the “jelly bean” computer in every color, to every model of the iPod in every color.

The exhibit also intends to grow, featuring Apple’s latest products such the Vision Pro goggles.

The iPods are displayed across a wall, and it’s a big showstopper.

“Everybody loves this wall because if you’re of this era, you’ve had one of these at some point,” said Karin Mimms.

Every model lines up like a snapshot in time, in chronological order of creation, not only to tell a story, but to create new stories.

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“When they leave here, it would be nice to think that you know in a dramatic case that some kid literally, you know, starts looking at what might end up being a career for them,” said Lonnie Mimms.



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Atlanta, GA

Athletics defeat Braves 5-2 in Atlanta

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Athletics defeat Braves 5-2 in Atlanta


The Athletics continued their interleague series with the Braves today at Truist Park in Atlanta. Making his first official start of the season for the A’s was 30-year-old righty Aaron Civale. He was 4-9 with a 4.85 ERA last season for three MLB ball clubs. Civale matched up against 28-year-old lefty José Suarez for the Braves. Suarez just pitched in nineteen innings for the Braves last season, going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA.

After a quiet top of the first inning, the Braves got on the board first when reigning National League R-O-Y Drake Baldwin knocked his third homer of the year to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.

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In the top of the second, Brent Rooker led off with a single but was erased on a double play ball by Soderstrom. Max Muncy walked and advanced to second on a balk and scored on a single by Andy Ibáñez. Lawrence Butler and Denzel Clarke each walked and Jacob Wislon hit a ground rule double to drive in two.

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