A night of Appalachian music and community support is planned for Saturday, April 11, as the Peacock Performing Arts Center hosts a fundraising concert to support repairs to its facility. North Carolina-based quintet Unspoken Tradition will headline the event, bringing a blend of high-energy bluegrass and traditional Appalachian storytelling. Known for their impassioned performances and nostalgic sound, the group’s music reflects both the intensity and sincerity of the region

The Clay County GOP will host its regular monthly meeting on April 16th at 6:30 pm at the Clay County Community Center, in the 2nd Floor meeting room, at 25 Riverside Drive, Hayesville, NC. Join us for light refreshments, snacks, and desserts at 6:30 PM, with the business meeting starting at 7:00 PM (please bring a covered dish snack or dessert to share). Details regarding guest speaker(s) or other program highlights will be published later. William E. (“Bill”) Carter As re

Historic Hayesville Inc. will host its 12th annual yard sale fundraiser known as "Trash 2 Treasure" which began on Saturday, April 4, with proceeds supporting downtown improvement projects. The sale took place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on opening day at 818 U.S. Highway 64 Business in Hayesville, located opposite the Cherokee Exhibit. Following the kickoff, the event will continue throughout April and May on a regular schedule: Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and S

Photo from the Clay County Fire and Rescue Facebook page. A fast-moving wildfire threatened homes in the Shooting Creek area Thursday afternoon, prompting a multi-agency response. According to Clay County Fire and Rescue, crews were dispatched shortly after 3:30 p.m. on March 26 to the Shiloh Subdivision in the Shooting Creek Fire District following reports of a wildfire with structures at risk. First responders arriving on scene found flames rapidly approaching a newly const

The Clay County Farmers Market is set to return for the 2026 season, offering residents and visitors a weekly opportunity to shop local and support area agriculture. According to event organizers, the market will run from May 21 through Sept. 24, 2026. It will be held every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hayesville Town Square. The market aims to connect the community with local farmers and producers, featuring fresh foods and goods while promoting sustainable living. Orga

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release The Clay County Sheriff’s Office continues to receive reports of SCAMS of various kinds. Fortunately, most are not successful and reported to the Sheriff’s Office for informational purposes only. Some, however, are successful, which is heartbreaking. These are heartbreaking because there is little if anything that can be done locally except making a written report and notify the FBI’s fraud reporting system at “ ic3.gov ”. Replies b

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 03/21/26 around midnight Clay County Officer Sean Stout, with K-9 Freya, was on routine patrol out Old US Hwy 64 west in Clay County when he observed a white Nissan truck traveling without an illuminated tag light. Officer Stout stopped the truck at the intersection of Ford Road and Old US Hwy 64 west. Tammy Michelle Borchardt, 55 years of age from Warne, was found to be driving the Nissan. Samantha Taylor Borchardt, 28 years of

A longtime member of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has received one of the highest professional honors available to law enforcement officers in North Carolina. Sergeant Ethan Henderson was recently awarded the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate by the North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission during a ceremony in Raleigh. The Advanced Certificate is the highest level of recognition issued by the state’s training commission. It is awarded to off

The Clay County Board of Education recognized a group of middle and high school band students during its meeting this week for their selection to the Far West Honors Band. Board members acknowledged both Hayesville High School (HHS) and Hayesville Middle School (HMS) students, noting that several honorees were unable to attend the meeting. At the high school level, seniors Ann Gibson and Grace Gibson earned top honors as first chair flute and first chair trumpet, respectively

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has received a donation of five patrol rifles from local business owner Doc Wacholz, helping the agency begin replacing an aging inventory of equipment. According to a statement shared on social media, Wacholz, owner of Cherokee Guns, presented the rifles to the department, a contribution officials say would have cost more than $5,000 if purchased. Sheriff’s officials said the new rifles will enhance deputies’ ability to respond to calls while

Press Release Free Bird Southern Spring Water will make its official NASCAR Cup Series debut as the primary sponsor of Chase Briscoe's No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing at Darlington Raceway on March 22, marking a major milestone for the fast-rising Southern beverage brand. The Darlington race marks the first time Free Bird will appear as the primary partner on Briscoe's car, launching a three-race primary sponsorship schedule during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series seas

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC is warning members about a phone scam reported by multiple customers involving fraudulent claims of unpaid balances. According to the utility, several members reported receiving calls from individuals claiming they owed money on their accounts. The callers allegedly instructed victims to visit a Dollar General store and purchase a specific form of payment. BRMEMC officials emphasized that the company does not conduct business in that manner and will ne

Dr. Rob Peck Chairman Clay County Board of Commissioners It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dear colleague and friend, Commissioner Dwight Penland. Dwight dedicated more than 27 years to public service in Clay County — 19 of those as a County Commissioner and eight years on the Board of Education before that. He was a voice of reason and an unyielding advocate for our community, helping bring forward vital improvements including our new courthouse, P

Motorists traveling through Hiawassee should expect traffic changes Saturday morning as portions of U.S. Route 76 and Georgia State Route 288 will have lane closures for the Hiawassee Half Marathon and 5K. According to event organizers, one lane of SR 288 and US 76 will be closed during the race. Traffic cone placement will begin at 6 a.m., with official lane closures starting at 7 a.m. Roads will reopen on a rolling basis as runners clear the course, with all lanes expected

On March 3, 2026, at 6:43 p.m., Clay County Officer Sean Stout, with his K-9 Freya, stopped a Buick LeSabre in the area of U.S. Highway 64 East and Jackie Cove Road in Hayesville. The vehicle was stopped due to having no functional taillights. Officer Stout identified the driver as Gregory Austin Orr, 47, of Robbinsville. Melissa Ann McCarter, 53, of Elizabethton, Tennessee, was identified as a passenger in the vehicle. Orr was unable to produce a registration for the car. Cl

Press Release The Clay County Republican Party will hold its annual Precinct and County Conventions on Thursday, March 19 2026, in the restored courtroom upstairs at the Beal Center/Historic Clay County Courthouse, on the Square in downtown Hayesville. The primary purpose of the conventions is to elect delegates to the 11th District and State Republican Conventions for 2026. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Everyone must be registered no later than 5:30 p.m. The Precinct Conventions

With the recent time change now behind us, Clay County Fire & Rescue is reminding residents to take a few minutes to check the smoke alarms in their homes. In a recent social media post, the department encouraged people to use the time change as a reminder to replace batteries and test smoke detectors to make sure they are working properly. Fire officials recommend replacing the batteries in every smoke alarm in the home and pressing the test button to confirm each unit is f

The Clay County Community Revitalization Association (CCCRA) has announced the lineup for the 2026 Summer Concert Series on the Square in Hayesville, featuring eight nights of live music throughout the summer. The free concert series will kick off May 1 and continue through Aug. 14, bringing a variety of regional bands to the town square for evenings of food, fellowship and music. According to organizers, food and beverages will be available beginning at 6 p.m., with live mu

If you’ve ever bought a large household appliance in North Carolina, you may have noticed a small $3 charge on your receipt—but not everyone knows what it’s for. The charge is called the White Goods Disposal Tax , a $3 fee applied to the purchase of certain major appliances from any North Carolina business. It doesn’t just apply to state residents—anyone buying an appliance from a retailer in North Carolina is required to pay it. The fee covers so-called “white goods,” a cate

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Voters in Clay County turned out Tuesday, March 3, for the primary election, with all nine of nine precincts reporting results by the end of the night. In the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Roy Cooper carried the county with 506 votes, or 88.62 percent. Justin E. Dues received 26 votes (4.55 percent), followed by Marcus W. Williams with 16 (2.80 percent), Robert Colon with 12 (2.10 percent), Daryl Farrow with 8 (1.40 percent) and Orrick Quick with 3 (