Staff Report Mountain Buzz The Union County College & Career Academy (UCCA) received a generous donation of siding and other building materials this week from Mitchell Ingram of Builders FirstSource, giving students in the high school’s Construction program valuable real-world resources for hands-on training. Mitchell Ingram visited Union County High School to personally deliver the materials, which will be used by students enrolled in the Career, Technical, and Agricultural

Staff Report Union County Schools has announced that it has been awarded the Computer Science Teacher Equipment and Community Grant , with official approval confirmed at the November 2025 State Board of Education meeting. The recognition marks another major step forward for the district’s rapidly expanding computer science programs. The grant will be used to strengthen student opportunities in hands-on physical computing and robotics—areas that continue to grow in popularity

Staff Report Mountain Buzz News Eighth graders at Union County Middle School experienced real-world forensics firsthand on Monday, November 17, when deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Union County Schools Police Department transformed the school gymnasium into an interactive crime-scene training area. At the invitation of the 8th-grade class, law enforcement set up four stations that guided students through the complete process of investigat

By: Staff Report Mountain Buzz As the crisp mountain air of Union County turns festive with the first hints of snow, the community is gearing up for a heartwarming kickoff to the holiday season. Mark your calendars for December 6, when the Union County Community Center transforms into a winter wonderland for the annual Holly Jolly Christmas & Breakfast with Santa. This free, family-friendly extravaganza, hosted by the Blairsville Union County Chamber of Commerce and United Co

The Union County Fire Department (UCFD) recently received a generous donation of 48 smoke alarms from City Plumbing and Electric Supply Company. The donation was made by Chris Britton, the local Branch Manager, and Todd Alexander, the company’s Purchasing Manager, as part of the department’s ongoing Smoke Alarm Program. Through this program, UCFD offers free smoke alarm installations to homeowners throughout the county. The program is designed to ensure that every household i

By: Staff Report The Mountain Buzz According to a report from WJRB Radio , the Blairsville man severely beaten in an attack last week is showing signs of recovery. Devon Davenport , who was airlifted to a Gainesville hospital after the incident, is now reportedly off life support and able to follow commands. Davenport’s sister, Dawn Marie Davenport-Davis , shared an update on social media saying her brother faces a long road to recovery. She wrote that he will need “ at minim

Photo via the Union County High School Facebook page. By: Staff Report The Mountain Buzz Union County High School is celebrating a major boost for its students and workforce development programs thanks to a generous $30,000 donation from River City Bank . The contribution was made to the Union County College & Career Academy  through the Georgia PEACH Education Tax Credit initiative , a program that allows individuals and businesses to direct a portion of their state tax doll

By: Staff Reports Mountain Buzz Firefighters from Union County’s Stations 4 (Ivylog), 5 (Suches), and 13 (Hidden Harbor) took part in a specialized training on lithium-ion battery fires in Cleveland, Georgia, on Friday, November 7. The class, hosted by White County Fire Services, Habersham EMC, and Command and Control, LLC, was led by Command and Control Founder Webster Marshall, IV. The training brought together around 100 firefighters from across North Georgia for a day of

Staff Report The Mountain Buzz As the colder months approach, Union County Schools is reminding families how decisions are made regarding school delays and closures during wintry weather. In a recent statement, the district emphasized that the safety of students and staff is always the top priority when deciding whether to delay or cancel school. Officials said that every closure decision is made with careful consideration, taking into account a range of conditions across the

Voter support for a proposed new penny sales tax in Union County came up short in Tuesday’s election. The controversial Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) was voted down by a margin of roughly 700 votes, with 55.85% voting “no” and 44.15% voting “yes” out of approximately 5,900 total ballots cast. Supporters of FLOST promoted the measure as a way to lower property taxes by shifting some of the revenue burden to a higher consumer sales tax. The county’s sales tax rate cur

The Union County Panthers delivered a commanding performance on their home course at Meeks Park on Saturday, capturing first place in the GHSA 2A Sectional 2 meet and earning a trip to the state championship. Senior Holden Payne  led the charge, taking the individual win with an impressive time of 17:46.70  on the challenging 5K course. He was backed by a strong pack of teammates who filled out the top 15, helping Union County finish with a team score of just 36 points , well

Union County officials have announced a temporary detour as part of the ongoing widening project along Highway 515 between Blairsville and Young Harris. According to information shared by the Union County Government, construction crews will be implementing a detour near the Trackrock Gap area beginning December 1, 2025. The detour is expected to remain in place for about 30 days while workers adjust side roads to match the new roadway elevation. For motorists traveling from B

As the holiday season approaches, Union County Family Connection is reminding parents and caregivers that Christmas assistance is available for children in need. Families who have not yet been contacted about this program are encouraged to reach out to the office at 706-835-4351 . To qualify for assistance, at least one child must be enrolled in and actively attending a Union County school, including Headstart and MECHS programs. Once this requirement is met, any other childr

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.  — The Union County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $55,917 High Visibility Enforcement grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to support efforts aimed at reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities on Georgia roads. The funding, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will be used for equipment purchases and to offset the cost of salaries for deputies assigned to the program. The grant will run through September 2026. Ac

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office held its latest Scam and Fraud Awareness Class on Oct. 22, continuing its efforts to educate residents about common fraud schemes targeting the community. The event, supported by local businesses and community partners, aimed to help residents recognize and avoid scams affecting the region. During the class, United Community Bank presented Sheriff Shawn Dyer and Investigator Robert Calamari with the bank’s U-ROCK Award in

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.  — Union County Fire Department hosted its annual Fire Safety Day last week, teaching roughly 350 pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students important lessons about fire prevention and emergency response. Over two days, firefighters demonstrated how smoke alarms work, explained their importance, and showed children how to safely crawl under smoke to escape a burning home. Students practiced the technique in the department’s “Get Low and Go” simulator — a 10-f

Union County Fire/Rescue & EMA Press Release Last week’s column provided some information on outdoor burning and reviewed the burning safety standards set by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). We encourage everyone to utilize these safety standards when burning leaves and other hand piled yard debris to prevent wildfires. We also encourage everyone to learn more about how to prepare your family, home, and community for wildfires. A good place to start is with Firewise USA

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — With the first real chill of fall settling across western North Carolina and north Georgia, homeowners are being urged to take advantage of the cool, dry days ahead to prepare their homes for winter. Local experts say a few preventive steps now can save money and prevent costly damage once freezing temperatures arrive in the mountains. The transition from mild autumn afternoons to frosty mornings often comes quickly in the southern Appalachians, where ele

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.  — Two Union County firefighters have completed an advanced Swiftwater Technician Course designed to prepare emergency responders for rescues in fast-moving water conditions. Firefighters Hudson Anderson  and Conner Cook   completed the week-long training, provided by Rescue 3 International , according to Union County Fire and Rescue. The course, which includes both classroom instruction and hands-on exercises, trains participants in techniques such as self-r

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Residents of Western North Carolina and northern Georgia should prepare for a winter that is more likely to be warmer and drier than normal, federal and regional climate forecasters said this month, a pattern driven in part by a return of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific. The Climate Prediction Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, issued seasonal outlook maps in mid-October that favor above-average temperatures an