Hayesville, N.C.  — Families caring for children with mental health challenges now have a new local resource. A community support group called Daily Mental Challenges is launching this month in Hayesville to provide parents, grandparents, and caregivers with a safe space to share experiences, gain support, and access helpful information. The group is designed to assist families managing conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and s

Governor Josh Stein  announced that North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority  has approved 12 grant requests totaling nearly $5.9 million to support infrastructure and economic development projects in rural communities across the state. The grants are expected to help create 277 jobs, including 71 previously announced positions, and leverage more than $43 million in additional public and private investment. “When rural North Carolina wins, all of North Carolina wins,”

The Union County–Blairsville Chamber of Commerce announced the return of The Big Dance, an annual fundraiser set to take place at the HARP Center on the campus of Young Harris College. The event will be held at the HARP Center at Young Harris College, bringing back a night of music, dancing and community celebration after a hiatus. Organizers say this year’s event will be larger than past editions, with an emphasis on both entertainment and philanthropy. Proceeds from The Big

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has issued a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert for an armed and dangerous individual believed to be in the area. Authorities are searching for Kevin Garrett Ledbetter , described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, with red hair. Deputies say Ledbetter was last seen wearing a black hoodie and pajama pants. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Ledbetter was most recently spotted near the intersection of Fall Branch Road and Hen

Firefighters have reached 90% containment on the Winding Stairs Alpha Fire burning in the Nantahala National Forest, according to officials. The wildfire has burned approximately 230 acres. Crews made significant progress Tuesday, building handlines and dozer lines along the western edge of the fire while conducting mop-up operations on the northeastern perimeter. Firefighters also completed a small, carefully planned firing operation along U.S. Highway 64 to strengthen the h

Photo from NCCAT-The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Facebook page. The Cherokee County School Board recognized a local educator during its February 5 meeting for earning statewide recognition as an outstanding beginning teacher. Dr. Karen Sumner, Deputy Executive Director of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, and Caesar Campana, Beginning Teacher Coordinator for Cherokee County Schools, presented Morgan Dudley with a plaque hono

The Murphy Riverwalk walking program has released its 2026 calendar, inviting community members to participate in twice-weekly group walks aimed at promoting health, fitness and social connection. Walks are scheduled each Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m., with participants meeting at the pavilion across from The Rock Gym in Murphy. The program runs from February through November, with no walks scheduled in December or January. According to the schedule, walks will be held on t

More than 23,000 North Carolina public high school seniors have accepted direct college admission offers through the NC College Connect program. Between August 2025 and January 2026, students accepted over 88,000 offers, representing roughly 21% of the Class of 2026. The program, now in its second year, automatically matches qualifying seniors—those with a 2.8 GPA or higher—to colleges and universities across the state, removing the need for a traditional application. State S

Gardeners in Zone 7 — which includes Clay and Cherokee counties in North Carolina and Towns and Union counties in Georgia — can take advantage of February to get a jump on the growing season by starting certain seeds indoors. While outdoor planting is still limited this time of year, February is considered an ideal month to begin slow-growing plants from seed. Starting early allows seedlings to develop strong root systems before being transplanted outside once warmer temperat

Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith announced Thursday that he will resign effective Friday and will not seek reelection, following a public call for his resignation from District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch citing a “loss in confidence, trust, and respect” in his leadership. Welch formally requested Smith’s resignation in a letter, saying ongoing issues within the sheriff’s office had negatively impacted the criminal justice system and raised concerns about officer safety

A 22-year-old from Murphy is heading to the next round of American Idol  after a standout performance on the show’s second episode of the season. Braden Rumfelt appeared on the popular singing competition accompanied by his twin brother, Kellen Rumfelt, who played guitar during the audition. The brothers’ performance of "Girl Crush" impressed all three judges — Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie — earning Braden a unanimous vote to advance. Rumfelt’s audition mar

A 57-year-old Murphy man was killed Sunday night in a weather-related crash in Cherokee County, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The crash happened Feb. 1 on NC 294 near the Tennessee state line. A vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned amid hazardous road conditions, according to NCSHP Lt. Joshua E. Dowdle. The driver was identified as Robert Walker, 57, of Murphy. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dowdle said excessive speed for the road conditio

Even though February’s cold grip still holds much of North Georgia and Western North Carolina — with snow on the ground in many areas — local gardeners are finding practical ways to prepare for the upcoming growing season. Winter’s chill may delay outdoor planting, but seasonal experts and extension services say there’s plenty that can be done now to lay the groundwork for a successful spring and summer garden. “February isn’t a time to put your tools away,” said a gardening

A powerful winter storm is set to impact north Georgia and nearby mountain areas this weekend, bringing snow, strong winds and dangerously cold temperatures to Towns, Union, Clay and Cherokee counties. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Union and Towns counties from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Sunday. Forecasters say the system is expected to produce 2 to 4 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts possible, especially in higher elevations. Wi

Angry Orange has recalled about 1.5 million units of its Enzyme Stain Removers after tests showed the products may contain harmful bacteria, federal safety officials announced. The recalled products can contain Pseudomonas aeruginosa , a bacterium commonly found in soil and water. While people with healthy immune systems are usually not affected, exposure can pose a serious infection risk for individuals with weakened immune systems, underlying lung conditions, or external me

While parts of Clay, Cherokee, Towns and Union counties saw impacts from the weekend winter storm, the region largely avoided the worst of the system. Light snow and ice were reported in some higher elevations, along with slick road conditions late Saturday and early Sunday. However, accumulations were minimal for most communities, sparing the area from the heavier snowfall and widespread power outages seen elsewhere across the Southeast. Despite the limited storm impact, dan

Another surge of Arctic air could bring some of the coldest temperatures of the winter to North Georgia and Western North Carolina early next week, according to Mountain Buzz’s official meteorologist, Greg Majewski. Majewski said the American GFS weather model continues to indicate the potential for sub-zero temperatures in parts of the region on Tuesday, Jan. 27, following a storm system expected to move through over the weekend. “The American GFS continues to push out sub-z

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, with assistance from the Criminal Investigations Division, executed a search warrant on January 20, 2026, at a residence located at 244 West Saw Mill Road in Murphy. The search warrant was the culmination of a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking activities within Cherokee County. As a result of the search, agents seized approximately 102 grams of methamphetamine, al

A major winter storm is forecast to hit portions of North Georgia and Western North Carolina as soon as Friday night, with significant impacts possible through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service and regional meteorologists. Forecasters are warning of a complex system capable of producing snow, sleet, freezing rain and dangerous ice accumulations as Arctic air clashes with Gulf moisture.  Storm System Overview Meteorologists describe the approaching system

Photo credit: Valleytown Fire and Rescue Valleytown Fire and Rescue responded to a large commercial structure fire Friday night at the Andrews Valley Poultry Farm, resulting in an estimated $5 million in property damage. According to a press release from Valleytown Fire and Rescue, crews were dispatched at 9:18 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, to a fire at 417 Taylors Creek Road, the location of Dutt and Wagner Inc. and the Andrews Valley Poultry Farm. Firefighters arrived to find one l