Clay County residents will soon have access to a new emergency preparedness resource as Clay County Fire & Rescue  launches a pilot program offering free TenderID cards. The department is partnering with Tendercare  to distribute TenderID cards, which are wallet-sized cards featuring a QR code that links to a secure profile with critical medical information. The profile can include medications, allergies, medical conditions and emergency contacts. An optional home decal is al

Hayesville native Keith Parker shared this photo of Franklin Mountain on his way to work on Monday.  A brief but sudden snow burst on Monday, Feb. 23, created tricky driving conditions and led to school delays across North Georgia and western North Carolina. While accumulations were light—no more than a dusting—the rapid coverage on roads surprised many drivers during the early morning commute. The snow came on the heels of an unusually warm stretch, with temperatures in the

Photo from the Murphy High School Athletics Facebook page. North Carolina high school basketball teams wrapped up conference tournament play over the weekend, with several local programs heading into the postseason with momentum. Both the boys and girls teams from Hiwassee Dam High School captured championships in the Little Smoky Mountain Conference tournament, completing a sweep and reinforcing the school’s strong showing on both sides of the bracket. The titles mark a hig

HAYESVILLE — A weekend to remember turned into a moment for the history books for Hayesville High School senior Rayland Martinez . Martinez made school history on Saturday, Feb. 21, becoming the first wrestler from Hayesville High School to win a state championship. The milestone victory marked a breakthrough moment for the Yellow Jackets’ wrestling program and capped off a standout season on the mat. The celebration didn’t end there. On Sunday, Feb. 22, a large crowd gather

Hayesville, N.C.  — Families caring for children with mental health challenges now have a new local resource. A community support group called Daily Mental Challenges is launching this month in Hayesville to provide parents, grandparents, and caregivers with a safe space to share experiences, gain support, and access helpful information. The group is designed to assist families managing conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and s

Governor Josh Stein  announced that North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority  has approved 12 grant requests totaling nearly $5.9 million to support infrastructure and economic development projects in rural communities across the state. The grants are expected to help create 277 jobs, including 71 previously announced positions, and leverage more than $43 million in additional public and private investment. “When rural North Carolina wins, all of North Carolina wins,”

Press Release The State of Georgia’s net tax collections in the month of January totaled $3.03 billion, for a decrease of $18.1 million, or 0.6%, compared to January 2025, when net tax collections totaled $3.05 billion for the month .  Year-to-date, net tax revenue collections through seven months totaled roughly $19.75 billion, for an increase of 345.6 million, or 1.8%, compared to FY 2025, when net tax collections totaled almost $19.41 billion. The changes within the follo

Photo from the City of Young Harris Facebook page The Enotah Garden Club marked Arbor Day on Friday with a proclamation reading and educational program at Young Harris City Hall. Members of the club gathered at City Hall to read the official Arbor Day Proclamation, highlighting the importance of trees to the community and the environment. The program featured presentations from Grace Howard, a Towns-Union Master Gardener, and Lea Clark of the Georgia Forestry Commission. How

(Photo from the Blairsville PD Facebook Page ) Left, Police Chief Michael Baxter presents Assistant Chief Russell Walker a plaque of appreciation for 25 years of service. Baxter was also recognized for his 25 years of service. BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — The Blairsville Police Department is celebrating a major milestone for two of its top leaders. Chief of Police Michael “Bear” Baxter and Assistant Chief Russell “Rusty” Walker recently reached 25 years of service with the City of Bla

Screenshot from Google Maps. HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Residents on Hiawassee Street in Hayesville will experience a temporary water outage starting Monday, February 23, at 4 p.m. The outage is expected to last until 7 a.m. Tuesday, February 24. The Clay County Water and Sewer Department said the interruption is necessary to install a new water line along the street. Customers are advised to plan accordingly and ensure they have enough water during the outage period. For questions

This summary written using information provided by YHC Athletics. Click here to read the original stories. The Young Harris College Mountain Lions picked up a pair of hard-fought Conference Carolinas basketball victories Wednesday night, with the women rallying late at home and the men delivering a dramatic road win at North Greenville. Women’s Basketball: Mountain Lions 59, North Greenville 55 The Young Harris women’s basketball team closed strong in the fourth quarter Wedn

High school basketball teams from North Carolina and Georgia were busy Wednesday night, Feb. 18, with tournament and postseason stakes on the line. In the Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament, the Murphy Lady Bulldogs moved on by eliminating the Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets, keeping their postseason run alive. The night was just as dramatic on the boys’ side, where the Murphy Bulldogs advanced with a thrilling 71–68 buzzer-beating win over the Andrews Wildcats. Andrews also

A full slate of officers filled the training room today as the Sheriff’s Office began its 2026 mandatory in-service training, a two-day session focused on maintaining professional standards and preparedness. According to the agency, today’s group represents just the first wave of personnel scheduled to complete the required training. Additional groups of officers will rotate through in-service sessions over the coming weeks to ensure all staff meet annual certification requir

The Union County–Blairsville Chamber of Commerce announced the return of The Big Dance, an annual fundraiser set to take place at the HARP Center on the campus of Young Harris College. The event will be held at the HARP Center at Young Harris College, bringing back a night of music, dancing and community celebration after a hiatus. Organizers say this year’s event will be larger than past editions, with an emphasis on both entertainment and philanthropy. Proceeds from The Big

As tax season arrives, Union County residents and businesses are being reminded they have an option to keep a portion of their Georgia state income taxes working closer to home — at no additional cost. On social media, Union County High School reminded that through the PEACH Education Tax Credit, taxpayers can redirect part of the state income taxes they already owe to support the Union County College & Career Academy instead of sending those dollars to Atlanta. Local officia

Clay County residents have a chance to turn an invasive problem into a positive change for their landscape through the 2026 Bradford Pear Bounty. N.C. Cooperative Extension in Clay County and the Clay County Master Gardeners are partnering with state and conservation organizations to help property owners remove Bradford pear trees and replace them with native alternatives. Once planted across neighborhoods for their early white blooms and bright fall color, Bradford pears (Py

Dave Lezotte Senior Manager of Public Relations The Gwinnett Stripers announced today their Promotions Schedule for 2026, the team’s 17 th season at Gwinnett Field. The full calendar of giveaways, fire­­works shows, theme nights, special appearances, and weekly promotions awaiting fans can be viewed at GoStripers.com/promotions . Single-game tickets for all 75 Stripers home games are on sale now at GoStripers.com/tickets . Headlining this year’s slate of giveaways are three

The Union County Emergency Management Agency serves as the coordinating agency for preparing for and responding to major emergencies and disasters, guiding efforts that span prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Each county in the State of Georgia maintains a local EMA office, which also coordinates Homeland Security efforts at the county level. Union County EMA officials say the agency’s work begins well before a disaster strikes. Prevention and mitiga

( Photo by Curtis Markham ) Leadoff batter Drew Bray turns on a pitch he likes against SWU. ⚾ Baseball | Conference Carolinas Sweep The Mountain Lions opened Conference Carolinas play in dominant fashion, sweeping Southern Wesleyan in a three-game home series while outscoring the Warriors 51–25 to improve to 3–0 in league action. Young Harris took the opener 14–7 behind a powerful offensive showing from Drew Bray, who finished 3-for-5 with a home run, double, and five RBIs