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

MURPHY, N.C. — The Hiwassee Dam Eagles kept their postseason alive with a dominant sweep over North Stokes in the opening round of the NCHSAA 1A state volleyball tournament on Saturday. The Eagles defended home court with a 3-0 win, taking the sets 25-23, 25-19 and 25-23. The victory highlighted Hiwassee Dam’s grit in close sets as they closed out each frame with clutch points. With the win, Hiwassee Dam (8-16) advances to face The Leadership Academy (18-7) of Kernersville o

MURPHY, N.C. — Two teams were fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive Saturday, but it was Murphy that found just enough to move on. The Bulldogs outlasted the Elkin Buckin’ Elks in a five-set battle, 3-2, in the opening round of the NCHSAA volleyball playoffs. While Murphy actually scored fewer total points across the match (100-97), they came through when it mattered most, taking the decisive fifth set 15-13. Set scores were 25-21, 18-25, 25-16, 14-25, 15-13. The victor

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.  — Union County snapped a four-game losing streak in front of their home crowd Friday night, defeating Coahulla Creek 19-10 on Senior Night. The win marked the Panthers’ first home victory of the season and their second overall, improving their record to 2-6. The result also continued their recent success against the Colts, as Union County earned a win in their previous meeting as well. For Coahulla Creek, the loss dropped them to 2-6 and extended their road

ANDREWS, N.C.  — The Murphy Bulldogs left no doubt Friday night, shutting out county rival Andrews 59-0 in a commanding performance that showcased their strength on both sides of the ball. The victory marked Murphy’s fourth straight win and improved the Bulldogs to 6-2 on the season. It also continued a dominant stretch in which Murphy has outscored opponents by an average of more than 34 points per game. Murphy’s defense was unrelenting, keeping the Wildcats off the scoreboa

Chief Deputy Justin Jacobs Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Murphy, NC- The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has completed an extensive organizational assessment through a partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center (BJA NTTAC). This no-cost initiative was designed to help the Sheriff’s Office strengthen community engagement, modernize operations, and align local law enforcement practices with national best sta

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Andrews Lady Wildcats and Hiwassee Dam Lady Eagles are set to represent the far western mountains in the opening round of the NCHSAA 1A state volleyball tournament. Andrews (No. 8 seed) earned a first-round bye and will advance automatically to the second round. The Lady Wildcats will face the winner of the match between No. 9 NCSSM-Morganton and No. 24 Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. That matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18. Meanwhile

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released the Class 2A state volleyball playoff brackets this week, and two Smoky Mountain Conference rivals — Hayesville and Murphy — are both set to represent the conference on the postseason stage. Hayesville (25-4)  earned the No. 5 seed in the 2A West bracket after a strong regular season that included a runner-up finish in conference play. The Yellow Jackets received a first-round bye and will face th

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — The Towns County Sheriff’s Office has opened the application period for its annual Shop With the Sheriff Christmas assistance program, which helps provide holiday gifts for local children in need. Applications are now being accepted for kindergarten through fifth-grade students whose primary residence is in Towns County. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025, and incomplete or late applications will not be accepted. Only parents or legal guardians may

By: Kim Terrell County Extension Director, Clay County North Carolina Cooperative Extension – Clay County Center is inviting residents to share their thoughts through a community survey designed to help shape future programs and outreach efforts. The survey seeks input on a wide range of topics, including agriculture and horticulture, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), 4-H youth development, and the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (EMGV) program. Responses will help iden

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Clay County Chamber of Commerce has released the schedule for the 2025 Punkin Chunkin event, set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18–19. Each day will begin with a safety meeting at 9 a.m., followed by the first round of the chunkin competition from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Public visitation is scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the second round of the competition will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The weekend event will conclude on Sunday,

MURPHY, N.C. — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department will host a community blood drive on Friday, Oct. 17, from noon to 4 p.m. at 577 Regal Street in Murphy. The event is organized in partnership with Blood Assurance, which encourages residents to donate and help save lives. According to Blood Assurance, a single donation can save up to three lives. Those who donate between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31 will receive a pair of limited-edition “Count Me In” vampire socks as a thank-y

MURPHY, N.C.  — Murphy Middle School briefly went into a Code Yellow status Tuesday, Oct. 14 after a student reported inappropriate drawings and writing in the girls’ restroom, according to Principal Adam Clonts. In a letter sent to parents, Clonts said the precautionary measure was taken to enhance school security and maintain heightened awareness while classes continued as normal. The school’s administrative team conducted a thorough investigation, including interviews with

GAINESVILLE, Ga.  — The Towns County Lady Indians saw their softball season come to an end Wednesday after falling 14-6 to East Hall in a non-conference matchup in Gainesville. Towns County jumped out early with two runs in the first inning and added another in the second to stay within striking distance. But East Hall’s offense proved too strong, scoring five in the first and adding runs in each of the next four innings to pull away. The Lady Indians scored three more in the

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.  — The Union County High School varsity volleyball team opened postseason play in dominant fashion Tuesday, Oct. 14, sweeping the Kendrick Cherokees 3-0 in a home playoff match. The Panthers controlled the match from start to finish, earning their most decisive win since Sept. 15, when they also recorded a straight-sets victory. With the win, Union County improved to 26-15 on the season, while Kendrick fell to 17-6. The Panthers have been strong down the stre

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Hayesville Yellow Jackets kept their winning streak alive Tuesday night, defeating Swain County 3-0 in the Smoky Mountain Conference volleyball tournament at Hayesville High School. The victory marked Hayesville’s 11th straight win and their third sweep of the Maroon Devils this season. Despite the 3-0 result, the match was tightly contested, with the Jackets having to dig deep to close out each set. Hayesville took the first 25-21 before edging Swain C

MURPHY, N.C. — The Town of Murphy is inviting families to enjoy a free outdoor movie during its Halloween BOO-vie Night on Saturday, Oct. 25. The event will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Konehete Veterans Park and will feature a showing of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation . Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, pillows, and chairs for the outdoor screening. Food trucks and concessions will be available, and a kids’ costume party will be held before the movie

Clay County Sheriff Mark Buchanan Press Release On 08/02/24 at around 3:45 PM Clay County Sheriff’s Officer Shane Mull met the mother of a 45-year-old man at the Sheriff’s Office. The mother reported that she was afraid of her son who lived with her near Hayesville. The mother said that during the previous night her son kept them up yelling, cursing, and screaming. The mother also said her son had busted out a door frame during this night. The mother had a valid magistrate su

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Clay County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Chili Cook Off and Anything Pumpkin Competition on Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. on the Hayesville Town Square. Admission to the event is $6, and only 250 tickets will be available at the gate. The evening will feature judged competitions with cash prizes and People’s Choice Awards. Participants can register for the chili cook off or pumpkin competition online at claychambernc.com  or by calling the Cha