Fannin Focus Publisher Mark Thomason Arrested along with Thomason’s Attorney Stookey – Transported to Pickens Jail
Featured, Featured Stories, News June 24, 2016
Fannin Focus Publisher Mark Thomason and his attorney Russell Stookey were arrested late Friday afternoon and transported to the Pickens County Jail. Earlier in the day a Pickens County Grand Jury indicted Thomason on 1 Count of Identity Fraud, 1 count of Attempt to Commit Identity Fraud, and 1 count of Making a False Statement. Thomason’s Attorney, Russell Stookey of Hiawassee Georgia was also indicted for 1 count of Identity Fraud and 1 count of Attempt to Commit Identity Fraud. Thomason’s booking report is below, Stookey’s booking report will be published when available.
See related link: Fannin Focus Publisher Mark Thomason Indicted along with Thomason’s Attorney Russell Stookey
Christopher Mark Miller Arrested Again – 19 Counts on one case – 29 counts on another
Featured, Featured Stories, News June 24, 2016
Christopher Mark Miller was arrested again today on an indicted handed down by a Grand Jury.
Miller was previously arrested a few weeks ago. He was indicted today, June 25th, by a Grand Jury in Pickens County on 19 counts on one case and 29 counts on another. Authorities have confirmed at approximately 4pm he has been picked up and is in transit at this time. Once he has been booked FYN will provide additional information and a copy of his book in paperwork. The info should be available a little later this evening.
See previous story: Christopher Mark Miller Arrested
2015 Basketball Tip-Off Tournament
Sports November 30, 2015
The 2015 high school basketball season is officially underway as Fannin High School hosted this years Tip-Off Tournament. Gilmer, Pickens and Copper Basin are showcased each year which alternates between Fannin and Gilmer schools. Gilmer Ladycats were unscathed in this years tournament going 3-0 and earning first place. Pickens Nettes finished runner-ups. Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens all tied with a 2-1 record to share first place.
Hosts Fannin Rebels and Lady Rebels had a good showing for both teams. We will start with the Lady Rebels. A young team with just a couple seniors this year, they played pretty good ball. The Ladycats were the only team to really take he game by a large margin, but Coach Pass took the chance to play some of the younger players to get them extra experience. Turns out they are pretty good. Physical, strong and not shy about driving the lane and banging elbows when needed. This is sure to be a huge learning season for Coach Pass and her girls, but we will see the rewards in future years.
The Fannin Rebels on the other hand are outstanding. Super aggressive and coupled with high percentage shooters like Clay Ware, Logan Holt and Adam Ingram this years team is sure to do well. Clay Ware shot 17-3PT shots in the three days, 9 just in one game alone. The team had a total of 36 from outside the arc. A fast paced highly aggressive team that gets on you quick and don’t let up. 58 points scored in the first period,two games with 20+, allowing only 21 first quarter points. The Rebels start region play Dec. 4 at Franklin. The next match up is at home in non-region play against Murphy, NC.
The Ladycats looked like the team of last year, even with the loss of Bailey Charles, that never missed a beat. Aggressive play and experience will be a huge advantage in region play as they get started on December 1, against NW. Whitfield at home. Look for the Ladycats to have a great year.
The Gilmer Bobcats are a fierce competitive team with a decent bench. With a few returning starters from last year, the Bobcats look to have a great season. They start their region play at home against NW. Whitfield on Dec. 1.
Copper Basin was the surprise team in this year tournament. With a small team and fewer veteran players, Tanner Wilcox and Tyler Limburg led the Cougars in two very close games against Gilmer and Pickens. The Cougars have all the talent they need to make a great run this year in TSSSA Region play. Coach Johnson said after the Fannin game that that was probably going be the hardest game of the season for his Cougars. The Lady Cougars were also a huge surprise after a hectic last season. The loss of their coach mid-season and just not being coached properly the Lady Cougars bounced back this year showing they can compete in their region this year and that they are fighters and will not give up.
Pickens County Deputies Wounded – Suspect Killed
News October 25, 2015
Police are currently investigating and gathering information after gunfire exchanged tonight. Two Pickens Sheriff Deputies were hit with non-life threatening gun shot wounds. The deputies returned fire along with the Georgia State Patrol and the suspect was killed.
The altercation occurred at approximately 9 pm Saturday night, October 24th on Carver Mill Road in Talking Rock, GA after deputies responded to a domestic dispute. According to authorities two people had gotten into an argument. Although details are not available, the two people in the disagreement were not husband and wife.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate which is standard procedure for shootings involving police officers. Lt. Kris Stancil with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office told us no other information available at this time. FYN will update as more information becomes available.
Ashley Madison Account Held by Pickens County Government Employee
News August 24, 2015
Recently personal data from the adultery website Ashley Madison has been posted on the web, exposing names, email addresses, and phone numbers among other information, for approximately 37 million members of the website. The data dump has been released about one month after the website’s parent company, Avid Life Media, confirmed there was a “criminal intrusion” into its system. The website provides a place for those seeking an extramarital affair.
FetchYourNews.com realized one of the domains leaked with the hack belonged to pickenscountyga.gov. An open records request was submitted to Pickens County on August 20th seeking names of county employees with an assigned email with this domain. This information has not been released as of noon Monday August 24th.
However FYN did receive the following press release from the Pickens County Board of Commissioners this morning:
The Board of Commissioners has been informed that one of its email addresses (pickenscountyga.gov) has been linked to the Ashley Madison information dump that has been referenced in recent news reports. We asked ETC to identify who this email address was assigned to, and they verbally informed us that it was assigned to an employee that is no longer working for the county. In fact, this person had left the county’s employment several months ago. At this time, it does not appear that any current county employee is implicated in the Ashley Madison information dump; however, if a current employee is later found to have used their county email account for the activities associated with the Ashley Madison website, that employee will be disciplined.
The story will be updated as new information becomes available.