• Senate releases proposed Congressional Map, moves Clyde out of Ninth?

    proposed congressional map

    ATLANTA – The proposed Senate Congressional Map, presented by Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan and Senator John F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Redistricting and Reapportionment Committee, makes significant changes to the Ninth District. The map places Jackson County in the Tenth District. Ninth Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-Ga) resides in Jackson County. If the proposed map […]

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  • September 17-23 is Constitution Week in Union County

    Constitution Week

    BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Constitution Day will be observed on September 17 with Constitution Week lasting until September 23, 2021. “On this day in 1787, the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution of the United States of America. With this proclamation, we’re giving official recognition to this document and the anniversary of its signing,” read Sole […]

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  • Community celebrates life of Sydnie Grace Jones at intersection dedication

    Sydnie intersection dedication

    BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The Sydnie Grace Jones Memorial Intersection dedication was a heartfelt event for everyone in attendance as family and friends celebrated the young woman’s life. Sydnie, a Fannin County High School graduate, tragically died in January 2021. She was 19 years old.  Two other Fannin students and Sydnie were involved in a horrific […]

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  • Mask requirement extended at Clay County Schools

    clay county school mask requirement meeting

    HAYESVILLE, NC: At the called meeting on September 7, the Clay County Board of Education decided to continue the mask mandate until the COVID-19 numbers decrease. The decision was unanimous. The board will review the policy every month. NC General Assembly issued two policy options for school systems regarding masks, but one must be approved every […]

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  • Union County accepting rollback for 2021 millage rate

    public hearings millage rate courthouse Qualifying meetings state of emergency property

    BLAIRSVILLE, GA – The 2021 millage rate will be dropping to 6.024 mills from last year’s 7.187 mills in Union County. “The State Computation form indicates this is a 0.00% tax increase. The rollback rate is set by the State of Georgia using the county’s net digest number,” the county notice stated. Union County recently […]

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  • Tiny home subdivision moratorium extended until January 2022

    tiny home subdivision moratorium

    BLUE RIDGE, Ga – After continued discussion on the matter, Fannin County Commissioners opted to extend the tiny home subdivision moratorium until 2022. Tiny homes can be on wheels or on a foundation and have risen in popularity recently. The “tiny life” movement is focused on living with less and creating a more efficient space. […]

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  • Masks again required in Towns and Union Courthouses

    mask requirement courthouses

    BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Enotah Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Raymond George issued a mask requirement for all visiting the courthouses in Union, Towns, White, and Lumpkin Counties. The mandate will be in place at least until the Delta Variant wave of COVID-19 abates in the area. The order begins on Monday, August 23, 2021. All who […]

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  • Union County Primary must close due to Covid-19 outbreak

    Union County Primary

    BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County Primary School will close its building for a week beginning August 23 due to a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases. A letter from Principal Shane Womack outlined the current situation among staff and students. “We currently have 20.18 percent (22) staff absent, 3.18 percent (24) student positives, and 11.85 percent […]

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  • Clay board of education enacts mask requirement for students

    mask requirement

    HAYESVILLE, Ga – Clay County Board of Education issued a mask mandate just a few days before the start of the school year. The policy will revisit the decision on September 7 to determine if the mask requirement needs to continue. On July 26, the board decided masks could be a parent option. At that […]

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  • Georgia sending more state-supported staff to help hospitals

    ATLANTA – Governor Brian Kemp announced the state will increase the total number of supported staff in hospitals to 2,800 from the original 1,300. Across the state, hospitals told the governor’s office that they needed more staff to treat the influx of COVID-19 patients as well as other patients. Through October 2021, Georgia had committed […]

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  • Towns Elementary School is closed to in-person due to outbreak

    Towns Schools outbreak

    HIAWASSEE, Ga: Towns County Elementary is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak with ten positive staff members and six positive students. The building is closed for the week with students moving online. In an online statement, Superintendent Dr. Darren Berrong explained that the virus is rapidly moving through the elementary school staff. “This is not passing currently […]

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  • Fannin experiencing “significant increase” in COVID-19 cases

    COVID-19 cases

    BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Georgia’s currently ninth in the nation for rising COVID-19 cases and Fannin’s verified 89 new cases as of August 10 over two weeks. In the previous 14-day report the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) recorded 59 cases in Fannin County. On July 26, only 48 cases were documented over 14 […]

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  • Former Georgia Representative Carlton Colwell passes away

    Carlton colwell

    BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Former Representative and immensely influential citizen Carlton Colwell passed away on August 9, 2021. The 95-year-old was born in Blairsville, Ga and served in the Georgia House of Representatives for District 4 from 1964 to 1991. He served as the chairman of the State Institution and Property Committee, which oversaw the prison […]

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  • No masks required at CCS for now

    masks

    HAYESVILLE, NC – Clay County students will be returning on August 23, 2021, and this year masks are optional for students and staff for now. During the July 26, 2021 board meeting, the members voted to not require masks for the upcoming year. However, parents can send their children to school masked if that’s their […]

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  • Search for affordable housing locations continues in Blue Ridge

    BLUE RIDGE, Ga – The quest for affordable housing in Blue Ridge appears to be continuing with Beverly J. Searles Foundation. President of the Foundation Phillip Searles confirmed that he’s committed to finding the best location for an affordable housing complex in Blue Ridge. Earlier this year, Blue Ridge City Council rejected a rezoning request […]

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  • City council will continue to learn more about land use options

    land use

    HIAWASSEE, Ga – Hiawassee City Council agreed to move forward with learning more about land use and potentially zoning options for the city. After attending a planning and land use class to learn more about the options on the table for cities, the council wanted more information before making any lasting decisions. “It was a […]

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