Staff Report Clay County Commissioners have been recognized at the state level for their ongoing collaboration with the NC Cooperative Extension, earning the prestigious “Partnership Award.”  The honor highlights the county’s strong commitment to supporting programs that improve the well-being of residents of all ages. For years, Clay County Government and the Clay County Cooperative Extension have worked hand-in-hand toward shared goals, building a relationship rooted in coo

By: Travis Dockery The Mountain Buzz A recent social media post stirred controversy over the upcoming Clay County Christmas Parade and related activities around the Beal Center and downtown square. A post on a Hayesville community Facebook page warned residents: “You are welcome to donate to the CCCRA who is in charge of the old courthouse, gazebo, bike trails etc... but no teddy bears at the parade, no prayer on the square, no Christmas Caroling.” The post quickly ignited a

Staff Report Seven school systems and four individual schools across Western North Carolina are set to benefit from a major investment in STEAM education thanks to a new grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. The “Bridging the Gap with STEM-E²” grant will expand access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning for students from elementary through high school. The funding supports mobile science unit field trips, classroom entrepreneurship pr

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 11/12/25 around 2:00 PM a be on the lookout notice (BOLO) from Cherokee County was dispatched out for a white Cadillac Escalade traveling toward Clay County. Hannah Patrice Allen, 31 years of age from Hayesville, was believed to be traveling within the Cadillac with a 6-week-old child that she had taken without authorization. Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard and Officer JJ Wooten located and stopped this Cadillac at 3879 US Hwy 64 we

Staff Report Morning Buzz The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to stay alert after a recent surge in phone, text and email scams in which callers impersonate law enforcement and demand money under the threat of arrest. Officials say several Clay County residents have already lost thousands of dollars after scammers convinced them they faced immediate arrest unless they sent money through wire transfers, gift cards or other untraceable methods. In many cases, t

By Staff Report Mountain Buzz Residents looking for unique holiday gifts while supporting local history and artisans won't want to miss the upcoming "Shop Local" event at the Old Jail Museum. Hosted on Friday, November 28, and Saturday, November 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the fair will feature handmade crafts donated by vendors from The Festival on The Square. All items will be offered at reasonable prices, making it easy to find the perfect gift. Proceeds from the sale wil

Photo from the John C. Campbell Facebook page. The John C. Campbell Folk School held its Forging for the Future Live Auction  on Saturday, November 8, bringing together artists, supporters, and craft enthusiasts for a night celebrating community and creativity. The event, held in the Keith House Community Room, featured one-of-a-kind works from the Folk School’s Centennial Artists Collection. Attendees had the opportunity to bid on a variety of handcrafted pieces, with procee

By: Staff Report Mountain Buzz After two decades of vacancy, the long-abandoned building at 12 Herbert Street will soon be demolished and rebuilt as a boutique hotel and retail hub, the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA) announced in a letter to the editor published today. The nonprofit purchased the property with the original intent of renovating the 1940s-era structure to fit its mission of spurring economic growth in downtown Hayesville. However, ex

Press Release During the month of October through the first weeks of November, a stint of thefts occurred in numerous parts of the county. This incident included a stolen ATV, Trailer, Lawnmowers, and then a work Truck that included numerous tools, drilling locators and other tools which were offloaded to be sold. But during the first week of November, it came to an end. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) through extensive investigations were able to locate the off

Press Release On 11/07/25 at 4:06 PM, Clay County Investigator Brandon Coker responded to Turkey Cove Subdivision in response to Destiny Paige Swenson, 35 years of age from Hayesville, believed to be trespassing. Officers had responded to this location on prior occasions concerning other individuals seen trespassing. Once at the scene, Investigator Coker found Swenson present standing on a pile of debris with rocks in her hand. As Swenson began walking toward Investigator Co

A coalition of environmental organizations has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop what they describe as an “illegal logging project” in the Nolichucky River Gorge, a scenic section of Pisgah National Forest. MountainTrue, in partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity and represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, announced Monday that it is suing the U.S. Forest Service over logging operations the group says violate federal environmental laws and the

By Staff Report The Mountain Buzz Jason Simmons, Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, will visit Clay County on Monday, November 10, 2025, for a special luncheon with the Clay County GOP. The event will take place at 1:00 p.m. at West Tubing Company, located at 6175 Old Highway 64 West in Warne. Simmons’ visit is part of the North Carolina GOP’s “Red State Tour,” a statewide effort to engage with local conservative communities, register new voters, and encourage g

By: Staff The Mountain Buzz Over the past ten years, crime in Western North Carolina has shifted in ways that defy simple headlines. While some communities have seen notable spikes in violent incidents, others have experienced steady declines, resulting in a complex picture of public safety across the mountains. According to data from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, there is no consistent, region-wide in

The holiday season will officially get underway in Hayesville with the WNC Festival of Trees Sip & Stroll on Thursday, November 13 at The Beal Center, 25 Herbert Street. The festive evening will begin with a sponsor-only preview from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by public admission from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be a $5 entry fee for non-sponsors. Guests can enjoy a cozy and cheerful atmosphere with a selection of wine by the glass, mulled wine, and hot chocolate provided by E

Press Release On October 10, 2025, Clay County entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management to facilitate expedited assistance with debris removal resulting from Tropical Storm Helene. Tropical Storm Helene caused unprecedented damage and debris in Western North Carolina. Accumulated debris in our waterways creates emergencies and urgent conditions that require timely removal to protect health and safety and avert additional

Press Release Dr. Brian Mitchell, a beloved physician whose decades of service helped shape the landscape of healthcare in Western North Carolina, is the subject of a newly-released mini-documentary by local filmmaker Harrison Keely. Titled “Brian Mitchell – The small-town doctor who changed everything,” the film follows Mitchell’s journey from his childhood in Boston to his pivotal era at Murphy Medical Center, now known as Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital. “Dr. Mitchell’s

Voters in the Town of Hayesville made their choices Tuesday, November 4, in a local election that decided the mayor’s office and seats on the town council. Benita C. England won the race for mayor with a commanding 71.74% of the vote, earning 66 ballots in her favor. Michael R. Castellano received 26 votes, or 28.26%. No write-in votes were recorded in the contest. In the race for Hayesville Town Council, where voters could select up to three candidates, Vanessa Lauren Tiger

A Hayesville man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after repeatedly trespassing on the property of Carolina Christian Academy and First Free Will Baptist Church during school hours while carrying a chainsaw. Authorities say 47-year-old Eric Roberson had previously been warned not to return to the property. Despite the warning, he reportedly came back twice earlier in the day before being seen again around noon. At that time, children were outside for recess. School staff quickly

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — With the federal government shutdown raising concerns about possible delays in assistance programs, several organizations across Clay County are making sure local families still have food on the table. The Clay County Food Pantry on Hinton Center Road continues to serve residents every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. The pantry is open to Clay County residents and TEFAP recipients. For more details, call 828-389-1657. In Brasstown

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 10/25/25 at 2:17 PM a resident of Chatuge Village Circle traveled to a community dock to check on the whereabouts of his part time neighbor, Lewis Preston Stallings 69 years of age from Tallahassee, Florida. The neighbor had seen Stallings’ golf cart parked at the dock since the previous day. During the previous night around 8:00 PM, the neighbor had seen a boat arrive to the dock and believed it to have been Stallings arriving ba