HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Town of Hayesville is inviting residents and visitors to kick off the spring season with a day of shopping, bargains, and community connection at the Mayor’s Yard Sale & Community Day, set for Saturday, May 23 on Hayesville Town Square. The family-friendly event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and features a large community yard sale with vendors, individuals, non-profits, and local groups all welcome to participate and set up around the historic s

The Clay County Master Gardeners will hold their Annual Plant Sale on May 15–17, 2026, at the Downtown Discovery Garden, offering a wide selection of plants and gardening expertise to support local green spaces and community projects. Located just a short walk from Courthouse Square behind the County Extension Office at 25 Riverside Circle, the garden is maintained by the Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers of Clay County The event runs Friday and Saturday, May 15–16, from

The Clay County Sheriff's Office is inviting community members to participate in its upcoming Citizens Academy, with Session #11 scheduled to begin on Monday, June 1, 2026. In response to feedback and a desire to boost participation, organizers have condensed the program into a more accessible four-day format spread over two weeks. Classes will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays from June 1 through June 9, running from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each session. The Citizens Academy pr

North America’s only marsupial, the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), often gets a bad rap. With their rat-like tails, nocturnal habits, and occasional “playing dead” routine, many homeowners view them as pests. But the truth is far more impressive: opossums are gentle, beneficial neighbors that provide free ecosystem services. From tick control to cleanup duty, these quiet workers help keep yards, gardens, and forests healthier. Here’s why you might actually want them

The Beal Center, one of the area’s most distinctive historic venues located in downtown Hayesville, is inviting motivated college students and recent graduates to apply for a paid summer internship that offers hands-on experience in events, marketing, hospitality, and nonprofit operations. The position is ideal for students pursuing degrees or careers in marketing, events management, hospitality, communications, tourism, or related fields. Interns will gain valuable real-worl

Carpenter bees are large, robust insects that many homeowners mistake for bumblebees at first glance. But look closer: unlike the fuzzy, all-over-hairy bumblebee, carpenter bees have a distinctive shiny, hairless black abdomen (earning them the nickname “shiny hiney” bees). They are solitary bees, meaning they don’t live in hives or colonies. Instead, females do the heavy lifting—literally—by boring perfectly round holes about half an inch in diameter into untreated or weathe

The Clay County Community Redevelopment Association (CCCRA) continues its 2026 Summer Concert Series this Friday, May 15, with the return of crowd favorite Southern Vantage to the Hayesville Square. The free concert kicks off at 7 p.m. on the Square in downtown Hayesville. Southern Vantage, a North Georgia native band, is known for their tight three-part harmonies and high-energy performances that blend classic and modern rock and country favorites. Their set list features so

Clover, often dismissed as a common "weed" in lawns, is a powerhouse plant from the legume family (Trifolium species) with far-reaching advantages. White clover (Trifolium repens) and red clover (Trifolium pratense) stand out as the most common types. From fixing nitrogen in the soil to supporting pollinators and offering potential health benefits, clover delivers value across agriculture, ecology, gardening, and wellness. Agricultural and Forage Benefits Farmers have long va

Honeysuckles (Lonicera species) enchant with their sweet, nectar-rich blooms and intoxicating fragrance. These climbing vines or shrubs appear in gardens, woodlands, and hedgerows worldwide. While not all parts suit consumption—berries of many species prove toxic—the flowers of several common varieties offer edible, medicinal, and practical applications. Identification and Safety First Focus primarily on the flowers of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and common/Europ

Lily Ponitz Guest Writer The summer tradition of free music on the Hiawassee Town Square returns for its 27th year on Saturday, May 23! Every Saturday at 6:30 PM a different musical act will entertain locals and visitors alike. The band on stage for the first week of the 2026 season is Two Weeks Notice. Two Weeks Notice is a six-piece band of seasoned musicians based in the North Georgia/Hayesville, NC area. They perform classic rock and country songs primarily from the 70’s

For centuries, Indigenous peoples of North America, including the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) and other tribes, cultivated corn, beans, and squash in a symbiotic system known as the "Three Sisters." This companion planting method is more than a gardening technique—it’s a brilliant example of ecological harmony that maximizes space, boosts yields, improves soil health, and provides a nutritionally balanced harvest. How the Three Sisters Work Together In this method, the plants ar

Beneath the clear, rushing waters of the Chattooga, Nantahala, and Watauga rivers lurks one of Appalachia’s most remarkable — and misunderstood — residents: the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis). These giant salamanders, which can grow longer than two feet and weigh several pounds, are North America’s largest amphibians and a living relic of the region’s pristine mountain streams. Often called “water dogs,” “snot otters,” or “devil dogs” by local

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On the evening of May 1, 2026, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of an underage drinking party in the Beaver Dam community. The reports were received from school personnel who had overheard the plans being made. Deputies were initially alerted to the possibility of a gathering with alcohol beginning at 9:00 p.m., with the location reported as the pavilion near the boat ramp at Hanging Dog Campground or on

For the first time in recent memory, the Clay County Detention Center sits empty — not because crime has vanished, but due to a critical fire safety failure compounded by severe understaffing. A malfunctioning fire pump has taken the jail’s sprinkler system offline, prompting officials to relocate all 20 inmates to neighboring Cherokee County until the issue is resolved. State law requires at least three detention officers on duty around the clock to perform fire watch when a

In the world of backyard homesteading, where predators like hawks, raccoons, and foxes pose constant threats to feathered flocks, an unexpected ally has emerged from the skies: the crow. Often viewed as noisy nuisances or omens of bad luck, these highly intelligent corvids are proving to be valuable protectors and helpers for chicken keepers across the country. Nature’s Neighborhood Watch Crows are renowned for their sharp minds and complex social behaviors. When they spot a.

In the quest for sustainable gardening, homeowners and plant enthusiasts are turning kitchen scraps into powerful plant food. One trending hack—banana peel water, sometimes called “banana tea”—is gaining popularity as a natural fertilizer that recycles waste while delivering key nutrients to vegetables, flowers, and houseplants. Why Banana Peels? Banana peels are rich in potassium (K), an essential macronutrient that supports strong root development, photosynthesis, water reg

By Steve Esser The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine, 2,190 miles of footpath leading through 14 states. Students from Young Harris College recently spent time helping to refresh the Approach Trail (AT) at Amicalola Falls State Park. A group of students, faculty, staff, and friends of YHC worked in March on the 2026 YHC Spring Break Service Trip through the Hike Inn. “Service opportunities like these provide a meaningful and important space for students to d

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Peacock Performing Arts Center is set to enrich the Western North Carolina and North Georgia region this May with a diverse slate of performances spanning comedy, jazz, songwriting, and classic country tributes. The month kicks off with the hilarious farce “It Runs in the Family” by renowned British playwright Ray Cooney. Directed by David Layfield, the production will run over two weekends: May 8–10 and May 15–17. Audiences can catch the show on Friday

Clay County, N.C. — The North Carolina Forest Service and the Clay County Fire Marshal’s Office have officially lifted the burn ban in Clay County, effective immediately. While the restriction on outdoor burning has been removed, local and state officials are stressing that dry conditions persist across the area. Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to exercise extreme caution with any open flames, campfires, or outdoor burning activities. “Even without a burn ban i

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Union County, Georgia, near Blairsville and just below Brasstown Bald, lies the Track Rock Gap Archaeological Area. This 52-acre site in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest holds one of the Southeast’s most significant collections of Native American petroglyphs—ancient rock carvings etched into large soapstone boulders. The Rocks and Their Markings The site features six prominent table-sized soapstone boulders covered with hundreds