(File Photo) BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County firefighters are now better protected in the most dangerous conditions they face after the department completed a major upgrade to its Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) fleet. The department purchased 120 new MSA SCBAs in late 2025 at a cost of approximately $1,171,000. The project was funded through SPLOST. After setup and training, the new units were placed on every fire apparatus across the county’s 13 stations. Firefigh

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Downtown Blairsville is calling for artists to take part in its first Art Crawl, a free, self-guided event set for 3-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. Organizers say they especially want makers who can demonstrate their craft live outside participating downtown shops. Examples include canvas painting, crocheting, hat burning, wood carving, pottery and jewelry making. Only handmade work will be featured. Artists will be assigned a spot in front of a local merchant. T

Prices across extreme northeast Georgia and far-western North Carolina have settled into a narrower squeeze: cheaper they are not, but the pain is now concentrated at the pump and in a few grocery staples. Consumer prices in the South, the Bureau of Labor Statistics region that includes Georgia and North Carolina, rose 3.2 percent in the 12 months ending in July. That is up from 2.3 percent a year earlier and down from a 3.9 percent peak in May. There is no separate index for

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Fire and Rescue maintains seven rescue trucks stationed at career and volunteer fire stations across the county, vehicles designed primarily for technical rescues but equipped for a wide range of emergencies. The trucks respond to water rescues, rope rescues, machine extrications and auto extrications from motor vehicle crashes. Department officials note that motor vehicle accidents occur nearly daily, and some involve significant damage or inj

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union General Health System will host its annual Health Fair from 6 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Union General Hospital, 35 Hospital Road. The event offers a wide range of free health screenings, including blood pressure and vital signs, breast exams, oxygen saturation, body fat percentage, DEXA bone density scans, fall risk assessments, hearing and vision screenings, skin checks, toe brachial index readings, vein ultrasounds, EKGs, ankle-brachial inde

(Photo provided by UCSO) Pictured L-R: Chief Deputy Josh Berry, Sheriff Shawn Dyer, Deputy CJ Townsend, Sgt. Michael Kearns, Lt. Travis Gibson, FF/Paramedic Kyle Mead, AEMT Amber Pruitt, Paramedic Derrick Pruitt, Deputy Buck Stover, Kim Stover. Not Pictured - FF Adam Podber BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Sheriff Shawn Dyer on Friday presented Certificates of Merit for lifesaving actions to seven first responders during the county commissioners meeting, recognizing their rol

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County public safety organizations switched from analog to digital radio systems in 2019 using Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funding, according to a release from Union County Fire & Rescue. The change was driven largely by Federal Communications Commission requirements that narrowed radio bandwidths from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz. Officials said the narrower channels reduced the range and clarity of the older analog system, which transmitted signals

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office has welcomed four new deputies after they completed required training and certification. Deputies Logan Bryson, Lillian Leird and David Harris graduated April 24 from Basic Law Enforcement Training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. The program included more than three months of classroom instruction and practical training. After graduation, the three were assigned to the agency’s Field Training Progra

Young Harris, Ga. — A heat advisory is in effect Monday for portions of northeast Georgia and western North Carolina as oppressive heat and humidity push heat index values into the triple digits. The National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg issued the advisory from noon to 8 p.m. EDT for parts of northeast Georgia, including Stephens, Franklin, Hart and Elbert counties, along with portions of the North Carolina Piedmont and Upstate South Carolina. Heat index

Blairsville, Ga. — A long-running 1% Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax has financed major upgrades to Union County’s fire department, Emergency Management Agency and 911 center, according to Union County Fire and Rescue. The department recently addressed questions about the tax, known as SPLOST, and its effects on public safety. Officials said the funding has purchased equipment, built facilities and lowered insurance rates for residents and businesses while improving re

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — A man in his 70s died by suicide Monday morning at the Union County VA Clinic, authorities confirmed. Union County Dispatch received a call at 10:06 a.m. reporting a person with a single gunshot wound at the clinic. Deputies and EMS responders arrived within minutes and began assessing the situation, according to a sheriff’s office press release. The man, who was visiting the Veterans Affairs office and was not from Union County, was found by an office empl

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Live runway webcams are now available at Blairsville Municipal Airport, airport officials announced. The cameras provide views looking down Runway 08 and Runway 26 at the airport, identified by the FAA code KDZJ. Officials said the feeds offer pilots, aviation enthusiasts and community members a real-time look at airport activity. Viewers can watch aircraft movements, check current weather and runway conditions, and observe day-to-day operations. The camera

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Emergency Management Agency is introducing a new free alert system that will notify residents of emergencies, severe weather and other public safety issues through text messages, phone calls or email. The RAVE Alert System delivers three types of notifications. Emergency alerts cover situations such as evacuations, fires, floods, chemical spills and other life-threatening events. Weather warnings automatically notify residents of severe weather

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On July 30, 2026, at approximately 8:47 p.m., a narcotics agent with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a motorcycle displaying no registration plate. After the agent activated his emergency lights and siren, the motorcycle failed to stop, initiating a pursuit on Blairsville Highway. The pursuit ended safely when a civilian vehicle came to a stop in the roadway, allowing the agent to posit

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Fire Department firefighters completed their annual walkthrough of the county’s main school buildings and campus last week to familiarize each shift with the facilities and emergency systems. The department said the training helps crews respond more effectively in an emergency. Firefighters were escorted through the buildings by Union County School staff and Union County School Police. Crews reviewed preferred campus entry points that would avo

Rhonda Wells VP of Safe Pet Project accepts a Meals for Mutts donation from Lauren Ross Chef Owner of Sweet Pea's Eatery. Press Release BLAIRSVILLE, GA — Safe Pet Project and the Lucky Dog Restaurant Group are celebrating an excellent turnout following the inaugural Blairsville Meals for Mutts dine-to-donate event on Wednesday, July 22nd. Community members turned out in full force, enjoying local dining while raising over $2500 to fund vital animal welfare programs in Union C

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Sheriff’s Office deputies joined Union County Schools Police Department officers Wednesday for joint training focused on responding to active threats at local schools. The session brought together newer deputies, experienced school resource officers and other staff to practice coordinated responses. Officials said the training is part of ongoing efforts to ensure law enforcement agencies can act quickly if a threat emerges against students or s

Union County Sheriff's Office Press Release On July 16, 2026, Narcotics Investigations Sgt. Josh Bergen received a complaint from a concerned citizen about a suspicious vehicle on school property near the Union County Agriscience Center on Lovell Dr. Sgt. Bergen responded to the scene where he made contact with Mike Wigley. Wigley had been the subject of an ongoing narcotics investigation and was currently on probation. Sgt. Bergen’s investigation led to the search of Wigley’

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – The Union County Sheriff’s Office is proud to recognize several deputies who have earned their Intermediate Certification through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) over the past year. The Intermediate Certification is a significant professional milestone that requires deputies to be in good standing, complete at least two full years of service, and finish 150 hours of specialized or advanced training. This achievement demonstra

Blairsville, Ga. — Union County authorities are warning residents about scam mailings that appear official but are actually solicitations for unnecessary property title monitoring services. The Union County Sheriff's Office said individuals have recently received letters from a company calling itself "Home Title Services." The envelopes may include wording like "Official" or warnings about tampering, while the letters reference recent recordings on property deeds and list the