Blairsville, GA — The Union County Recreation Department is inviting residents to dive into a refreshing fitness routine with its new Water Aerobics classes, set to begin next month at Meek’s Park Pool. The program offers two convenient session schedules designed for all fitness levels, emphasizing fun, low-impact exercise ideal for staying active during the warmer months. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes will be led by instructor Deborah from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., r

Murphy, NC – Murphy Mayor Tim Radford announced that Braden Rumfelt’s free hometown concert, originally postponed, has been officially rescheduled for Thursday, June 11 at Konehete Veterans Park. The celebration will kick off with food trucks and merchandise sales beginning at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Residents and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to settle in for an evening of live music as the local American Idol alum returns home. “

Photo from the Union County Fire/Rescue Facebook page. Blairsville, Ga. – A dedicated group of volunteers has completed Union County Fire Department’s (UCFD) rigorous Recruit Class 108, earning certification as Georgia Certified Firefighters and strengthening the department’s ranks at a time when more volunteers are urgently needed. The recruits finished their training and passed all required testing on Saturday, May 9, according to a UCFD announcement. The class represents m

Birds are voracious predators of garden pests. Many species consume hundreds of insects per day, especially during nesting season when they need protein to feed their young. This natural biological control reduces the need for chemical pesticides, which can harm beneficial insects and soil life. Birds also play roles in pollination and seed dispersal, and their droppings supply gentle, slow-release nutrients to the soil. By creating bird-friendly habitats—adding native plants

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

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

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

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

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

As backyard poultry keeping surges in popularity across the United States, health officials are urging owners to take extra precautions following a recent multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to backyard chickens and ducks. While the active investigation centers on Salmonella Saintpaul (which has sickened 34 people across 13 states, with 13 hospitalizations), experts note that E. coli and other bacteria pose ongoing risks to both flocks and human handlers. Backyard birds can c

If you want to help pollinators but don’t have time for traditional beekeeping, mason bees are an excellent choice. These gentle, solitary native bees are highly efficient pollinators that require very little work. Why Choose Mason Bees? They pollinate up to 95% of the flowers they visit (vs. ~5% for honeybees) and are especially effective for fruit trees like apples, cherries, and blueberries. One mason bee can do the pollination work of roughly 100 honeybees for certain cro

(Photo Credit: Pam Roman) First row, left to right, Ed Legue, Ashley Eller, Sherrie Keely, Ryleigh Elver. Second row: Jeremy Bonilla, Ben March, Janice Lessard, David Cady, Kai Naihe, Kay Thomas. Missing: Dylan Mason, Isabelle Studley. By Harrison Keely Guest Writer Local audiences, take note: the diagnosis is laughter—and the prognosis is unstoppable. The Peacock Performing Arts Center’s latest production, It Runs In the Family, opens next Friday, launching two weekends of r

Residents of Clay and Cherokee counties in North Carolina and Towns and Union counties in Georgia are increasingly turning to over-the-air (OTA) antennas to cut expensive cable and satellite bills, but many are discovering that free broadcast television comes with major headaches in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The region’s steep ridges, deep valleys, and thick forests create a perfect storm for poor TV reception. Most major network signals originate from distant broadcast tower