Photo from the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Local residents gathered Wednesday for an engaging presentation on the connection between diet and overall health, hosted by the Blairsville - Union County Chamber of Commerce. Nutritionist Ann Marie Stanczyk, M.S., M.T., led the session, providing attendees with practical insights into how the foods we eat affect everything from energy levels to immune system support. Participants learned the importa

Photo from the Union County Fire and Rescue Facebook page. Motor vehicle accidents happen daily, ranging from minor fender-benders to serious crashes involving multiple vehicles and injuries. While these incidents can be traumatic for those involved, Union County Emergency Management Agency officials say they also pose significant risks to public safety personnel responding on scene. In a public safety reminder released this week, Union County EMA urged drivers to take extra

Eighth-grade students from Union County Middle School recently got a preview of what awaits them at Union County High School during the school’s annual Pathway Tour. The event gave students an opportunity to spend the day on the UCHS campus, where they were guided by student ambassadors through a variety of elective classrooms and laboratory spaces. The tours offered a first-hand look at the school’s academic pathways and hands-on learning opportunities available to incoming

The Union County Sheriff’s Office has recognized the Union County Public Library for its ongoing partnership in helping educate residents about scams and fraud. For the past several years, Sgt. Bob Calamari has presented a Scam and Fraud Awareness program aimed at helping people identify common scams and avoid becoming victims. The sheriff’s office said the library has played a vital role by providing space for the classes and supporting efforts to educate the community. Acco

Gardeners in Zone 7 — which includes Clay and Cherokee counties in North Carolina and Towns and Union counties in Georgia — can take advantage of February to get a jump on the growing season by starting certain seeds indoors. While outdoor planting is still limited this time of year, February is considered an ideal month to begin slow-growing plants from seed. Starting early allows seedlings to develop strong root systems before being transplanted outside once warmer temperat

The Union County Fire Department announced that Sergeant Hudson Anderson and Firefighter Kyle Mead have successfully completed the 32-hour Acting Officer in Charge course at the Georgia Fire Academy. The specialized program is designed to prepare firefighters to assume supervisory roles during emergency incidents and daily operations. Participants receive training in leadership, decision-making, incident command, personnel accountability, and effective communication, ensuring

UNION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Press Release On January 28, 2026, a deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford Focus based on traffic violations that he observed. There was an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, and several parts of the story provided by the driver and passenger did not add up. The Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit was called to the scene to assist. Probable cause was developed to conduct a search of the vehi

A 22-year-old from Murphy is heading to the next round of American Idol  after a standout performance on the show’s second episode of the season. Braden Rumfelt appeared on the popular singing competition accompanied by his twin brother, Kellen Rumfelt, who played guitar during the audition. The brothers’ performance of "Girl Crush" impressed all three judges — Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie — earning Braden a unanimous vote to advance. Rumfelt’s audition mar

Even though February’s cold grip still holds much of North Georgia and Western North Carolina — with snow on the ground in many areas — local gardeners are finding practical ways to prepare for the upcoming growing season. Winter’s chill may delay outdoor planting, but seasonal experts and extension services say there’s plenty that can be done now to lay the groundwork for a successful spring and summer garden. “February isn’t a time to put your tools away,” said a gardening

A powerful winter storm is set to impact north Georgia and nearby mountain areas this weekend, bringing snow, strong winds and dangerously cold temperatures to Towns, Union, Clay and Cherokee counties. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Union and Towns counties from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Sunday. Forecasters say the system is expected to produce 2 to 4 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts possible, especially in higher elevations. Wi

A winter weather system is forecast to arrive in Union County over the weekend, bringing snow and dangerously cold temperatures, according to Union County Government officials. Snow accumulation is expected to begin after midnight and continue through Saturday afternoon. The Union County Road Department said it is prepared to deploy resources as needed to help keep roads passable and maintain travel access throughout the county. Officials said the greater concern is the extre

Angry Orange has recalled about 1.5 million units of its Enzyme Stain Removers after tests showed the products may contain harmful bacteria, federal safety officials announced. The recalled products can contain Pseudomonas aeruginosa , a bacterium commonly found in soil and water. While people with healthy immune systems are usually not affected, exposure can pose a serious infection risk for individuals with weakened immune systems, underlying lung conditions, or external me

(Photo by Art Miller) Members of the Union County Fire Department work to salvage a home. Firefighters responded early Monday to a structure fire in the Jonica Gap area that caused damage to a home but resulted in no injuries. Union County E911 received the call at approximately 3:15 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 26. The Union County Fire Department dispatched stations 1, 4 and 13, with both volunteer and career firefighters and apparatus responding. Upon arrival, crews found fire in

While parts of Clay, Cherokee, Towns and Union counties saw impacts from the weekend winter storm, the region largely avoided the worst of the system. Light snow and ice were reported in some higher elevations, along with slick road conditions late Saturday and early Sunday. However, accumulations were minimal for most communities, sparing the area from the heavier snowfall and widespread power outages seen elsewhere across the Southeast. Despite the limited storm impact, dan

Another surge of Arctic air could bring some of the coldest temperatures of the winter to North Georgia and Western North Carolina early next week, according to Mountain Buzz’s official meteorologist, Greg Majewski. Majewski said the American GFS weather model continues to indicate the potential for sub-zero temperatures in parts of the region on Tuesday, Jan. 27, following a storm system expected to move through over the weekend. “The American GFS continues to push out sub-z

A major winter storm is forecast to hit portions of North Georgia and Western North Carolina as soon as Friday night, with significant impacts possible through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service and regional meteorologists. Forecasters are warning of a complex system capable of producing snow, sleet, freezing rain and dangerous ice accumulations as Arctic air clashes with Gulf moisture.  Storm System Overview Meteorologists describe the approaching system

The Union County Fire Department has begun a new firefighter recruit class aimed at training volunteers to meet state and national standards for interior firefighting. According to Union County Fire and Rescue, Recruit Class 108 officially started Jan. 8 and is made up of Support Firefighters from volunteer stations across the county who are working to advance to the role of Suppression Firefighter. A recruit class is a formal Suppression Firefighter program that meets the re

Union County residents are being urged to prepare for potentially dangerous winter weather this weekend as meteorologists continue to monitor a system that could bring significant icing to the area. According to Union County officials, a consensus among multiple meteorologists over the past several days indicates the possibility of an ice storm developing late Saturday and continuing into Sunday. If the forecast holds, the storm could rival some of the most severe ice events

Spencer Mathis Director of Media & Communications Young Harris College is excited to announce transformative enhancements to its soccer and lacrosse venue, positioning it as one of the premier athletic facilities in Conference Carolinas. Beginning this winter, the Mountain Lions' home will undergo major upgrades that will elevate the experience for fans, student-athletes, and media alike.  The facility will proudly bear the name Art & Tammy Deas Stadium, honoring the generosi

A Union County man is in custody after investigators say they discovered illegal child sexual abuse material on his cellphone during a criminal investigation. According to a press release from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received an initial report involving Joshua Bowers on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Following that report, the sheriff’s office launched an independent criminal investigation led by a detective specially trained to handle crimes involving children. Inves