Rayland Martinez gets the better of his Wildcat opponent, just before getting the win via pinfall. Staff Report The Hayesville High School wrestling program hit the mat last week and has already shown plenty of grit, determination, and promise for the season ahead. The Yellow Jackets opened the year on the road at Towns County, then returned home on Tuesday, November 18 to host Brevard and Andrews in a competitive early-season tri-match. While both the men’s and women’s roste

By: Travis Dockery The Mountain Buzz A recent social media post stirred controversy over the upcoming Clay County Christmas Parade and related activities around the Beal Center and downtown square. A post on a Hayesville community Facebook page warned residents: “You are welcome to donate to the CCCRA who is in charge of the old courthouse, gazebo, bike trails etc... but no teddy bears at the parade, no prayer on the square, no Christmas Caroling.” The post quickly ignited a

Staff Report Seven school systems and four individual schools across Western North Carolina are set to benefit from a major investment in STEAM education thanks to a new grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. The “Bridging the Gap with STEM-E²” grant will expand access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning for students from elementary through high school. The funding supports mobile science unit field trips, classroom entrepreneurship pr

With more than three decades in the Presbyterian pulpit, I’ve had countless conversations with people tiptoeing toward Christianity. Some are curious. Some are hurting. Some are simply trying to understand what Christians actually believe, separate from what they’ve heard secondhand. And almost every time, I make the same recommendation: “Start with the Gospel of John.” People are often surprised. They expect I might point them to the beginning—Genesis—or perhaps to the short

Staff Report The Hiwassee Dam girls basketball team opened its season at home Tuesday night but couldn’t hang on late, falling 64–59 to visiting Copper Basin. The Eagles kept the match-up tight throughout and looked poised to start the year with a win, but Copper Basin surged in the closing minutes to avenge a loss from the teams’ last meeting in January. Hiwassee Dam’s offense found its rhythm early, but the Cougars countered with steady scoring and a strong finish to hand t

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On November 15, 2025, agents with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division successfully concluded a targeted drug-trafficking investigation in Cherokee County, NC. During the operation, agents developed information indicating that Jared Dickerson and Chelsea Taylor, both of Murphy, were routinely traveling to Georgia to acquire significant quantities of illegal drugs for resale in Cherokee County. Working in close

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On November 14, 2025, members of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Murphy Police Department, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol were conducting a traffic checking station at the intersection of E US-64 and Harshaw Connector when a driver attempted to evade law enforcement. As the vehicle approached the checkpoint, the driver executed an aggressive U-turn and fled at a high rate of speed. A Trooper and Deputy initiate

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 11/12/25 around 2:00 PM a be on the lookout notice (BOLO) from Cherokee County was dispatched out for a white Cadillac Escalade traveling toward Clay County. Hannah Patrice Allen, 31 years of age from Hayesville, was believed to be traveling within the Cadillac with a 6-week-old child that she had taken without authorization. Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard and Officer JJ Wooten located and stopped this Cadillac at 3879 US Hwy 64 we

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

Staff Report Morning Buzz The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to stay alert after a recent surge in phone, text and email scams in which callers impersonate law enforcement and demand money under the threat of arrest. Officials say several Clay County residents have already lost thousands of dollars after scammers convinced them they faced immediate arrest unless they sent money through wire transfers, gift cards or other untraceable methods. In many cases, t

Press Release The Jackets came out quickly in the first quarter jumping out to a 16-6 lead. The Yellow Jackets defense created 5 first quarter turnovers which led to multiple transition baskets. Leaving the locker room at halftime with a 26-14 lead, the Jackets put together their best quarter in the third. They would outscore Murphy 20-6 to increase their lead to 26 points after 3. When the final buzzer sounded, the HMS Mens basketball team secured their fifth victory on th

Staff Report Mountain Buzz The Towns County Indians showed grit and energy in their home matchup Friday night, but the Union County Panthers proved too much to handle down the stretch, handing the Indians a 76–55 loss in non-conference play. Union County, coming off a strong preseason, wasted no time establishing momentum. Their fast tempo and accurate shooting helped them build an early lead, and although Towns County responded with several impressive runs of their own, the

Staff Reports Mountain Buzz With the stakes at their highest, the Murphy Bulldogs delivered one of their most commanding performances of the season Friday night. Hosting Albemarle in the second round of the NCHSAA state playoffs, Murphy was firing on all cylinders as they rolled to a decisive 57–14 victory. The Bulldogs wasted no time making a statement, piling up points early and often while shutting down nearly everything Albemarle tried to get going offensively. By the tim

Staff Report Mountain Buzz The Andrews Wildcats saw their postseason journey come to an end Friday night, falling 56–7 to the Robbinsville Black Knights in the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs at Robbinsville High School. The Wildcats entered the matchup hoping to build on the momentum of last week’s playoff victory, a bright spot in a season marked by challenges. However, Robbinsville proved to be too much from the opening whistle. The Black Knights controlled the game on

Staff Report Mountain Buzz The Hayesville Yellow Jackets saw their playoff run come to an end Friday night, November 14, as they fell to the East Wilkes Cardinals 44–7 in the second round of the NCHSAA state tournament. The game was played on the road at East Wilkes High School, and despite the lopsided final score, the loss doesn’t overshadow the strong year Hayesville put together. Coming off a thrilling 41-point offensive performance the week before, the Yellow Jackets ent

Press Release The Hayesville Middle School Men’s Basketball team improved to 4-0 on the season after picking up a 63-19 road win at Swain. Swain got the scoring started, taking a 2-0 lead before the Jackets went on a 12-0 run. Balanced scoring and relentless defense led Hayesville to a 26-6 lead after the first quarter. The halftime score was 45-8. The Jackets only turned the ball over a handful of times through 3 quarters and dominated on the boards, outrebounding Swain 34-9

By Staff Report Mountain Buzz Residents looking for unique holiday gifts while supporting local history and artisans won't want to miss the upcoming "Shop Local" event at the Old Jail Museum. Hosted on Friday, November 28, and Saturday, November 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the fair will feature handmade crafts donated by vendors from The Festival on The Square. All items will be offered at reasonable prices, making it easy to find the perfect gift. Proceeds from the sale wil

By: Staff Report Mountain Buzz Andrews High School is celebrating a group of outstanding students who recently received recognition from the Pre-ACT for their exceptional academic achievements. The Pre-ACT, a preparatory exam that helps students gauge college readiness, highlights top performers in several achievement categories. Andrews High School proudly announced the following students who earned honors for their impressive results: Early Scholars (Top 35% of High-Scoring

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

Photo from the John C. Campbell Facebook page. The John C. Campbell Folk School held its Forging for the Future Live Auction  on Saturday, November 8, bringing together artists, supporters, and craft enthusiasts for a night celebrating community and creativity. The event, held in the Keith House Community Room, featured one-of-a-kind works from the Folk School’s Centennial Artists Collection. Attendees had the opportunity to bid on a variety of handcrafted pieces, with procee