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 Mountain Buzz After two decades of vacancy, the long-abandoned building at 12 Herbert Street will soon be demolished and rebuilt as a boutique hotel and retail hub, the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA) announced in a letter to the editor published today. The nonprofit purchased the property with the original intent of renovating the 1940s-era structure to fit its mission of spurring economic growth in downtown Hayesville. However, ex

Press Release During the month of October through the first weeks of November, a stint of thefts occurred in numerous parts of the county. This incident included a stolen ATV, Trailer, Lawnmowers, and then a work Truck that included numerous tools, drilling locators and other tools which were offloaded to be sold. But during the first week of November, it came to an end. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) through extensive investigations were able to locate the off

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

Press Release On 11/07/25 at 4:06 PM, Clay County Investigator Brandon Coker responded to Turkey Cove Subdivision in response to Destiny Paige Swenson, 35 years of age from Hayesville, believed to be trespassing. Officers had responded to this location on prior occasions concerning other individuals seen trespassing. Once at the scene, Investigator Coker found Swenson present standing on a pile of debris with rocks in her hand. As Swenson began walking toward Investigator Co

Press Release The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 36-13 halftime lead. Unselfish play on offense coupled with disciplined defense set the tone for the Yellow Jackets. Hayesville would further pull away with a 14-3 advantage in the third, before closing out the game on a 14-5 run in the fourth. Hayesville dominated on the boards 35-12 and held Andrews to 30% shooting from the floor. Jackets travel to Swain on Thursday, Nov. 13.

By: Staff Report The Mountain Buzz The Murphy Bulldogs saw their impressive 2025 soccer season come to an end Monday night, falling 3-0 to Gray Stone Day in state playoff action. The two teams battled closely through the first half, but the Knights took control after the break to seal the win. Despite the final score, Murphy showed the same grit and teamwork that carried them through a standout season. The loss snapped a four-match winning streak for the Bulldogs, who finishe

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

A coalition of environmental organizations has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop what they describe as an “illegal logging project” in the Nolichucky River Gorge, a scenic section of Pisgah National Forest. MountainTrue, in partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity and represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, announced Monday that it is suing the U.S. Forest Service over logging operations the group says violate federal environmental laws and the

By Staff Report The Mountain Buzz Jason Simmons, Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, will visit Clay County on Monday, November 10, 2025, for a special luncheon with the Clay County GOP. The event will take place at 1:00 p.m. at West Tubing Company, located at 6175 Old Highway 64 West in Warne. Simmons’ visit is part of the North Carolina GOP’s “Red State Tour,” a statewide effort to engage with local conservative communities, register new voters, and encourage g

By: Staff Report The Mountain Buzz The Andrews Wildcats picked the perfect time to find their offensive spark. After a tough stretch to end the regular season, Andrews exploded for a season-high 42 points on Friday night, defeating the College Prep & Leadership Academy Royals 42-34 in the opening round of the playoffs. It was a hard-fought game from start to finish, with both teams trading big plays and momentum swings. But in the end, it was the Wildcats who made the key pla

By: Staff Report The Mountain Buzz It can be tough to carry regular-season momentum into the playoffs, but the Hayesville Yellow Jackets had no trouble doing just that Friday night. Hayesville dominated from start to finish, cruising by the Highland Tech Rams 41-0 in the opening round of the NCHSAA state playoffs. The Yellow Jackets’ offense was firing on all cylinders, piling up 397 total yards behind standout performances from quarterback Peyton McGaha and running back Tre

By: Staff Report November 7, 2025 The Andrews Wildcats saw their postseason run come to an end Thursday night, falling 7–1 to NCSSM: Morganton in the second round of the NCHSAA state playoffs. Despite a solid regular season that earned them a playoff berth, Andrews struggled to slow down the Dragons’ relentless offensive attack. NCSSM: Morganton, who has now won three of their last four matches, took control early and never looked back. With the loss, Andrews closes out their

By: Staff Report November 7, 2025 The Murphy Bulldogs continued their dominant run this season with a convincing 5-2 victory over the Queen’s Grant Stallions in round two of the NCHSAA playoffs on Thursday, Nov. 6. Murphy has been a force all year, with ten wins by three goals or more, and Thursday’s performance showed why. The Bulldogs’ offense was firing on all cylinders while their defense continued to shine, allowing only two goals during their nine-game home winning stre

By Staff Reports November 7, 2025 The Hayesville Yellow Jacket soccer team saw its playoff run come to an end Thursday night, falling 8–0 to Gray Stone Day in the second round of the NCHSAA 1A State Playoffs. The Jackets faced a tough road challenge against a talented Knights squad, ranked 178th in the state according to MaxPreps. Hayesville entered the matchup ranked 493rd and had to contend not only with a higher-seeded opponent but also a long road trip. . Despite the scor

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

By: Staff The Mountain Buzz Over the past ten years, crime in Western North Carolina has shifted in ways that defy simple headlines. While some communities have seen notable spikes in violent incidents, others have experienced steady declines, resulting in a complex picture of public safety across the mountains. According to data from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, there is no consistent, region-wide in

Press Release The Jackets never trailed in their 57-30 victory on Thursday, November 6th. Hayesville took a 30-14 lead into half. With the score 34-19, Hayesville went on a 17 point run to put the game away. The third quarter was the best for Hayesville outscoring the Tigers 19-5. All 13 players contributed in the win, with 10 different players scoring. Twelve different players grabbed a rebound, dominating the boards 39-19. The Yellow Jacket defense held Rosman to 24% shooti

The holiday season will officially get underway in Hayesville with the WNC Festival of Trees Sip & Stroll on Thursday, November 13 at The Beal Center, 25 Herbert Street. The festive evening will begin with a sponsor-only preview from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by public admission from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be a $5 entry fee for non-sponsors. Guests can enjoy a cozy and cheerful atmosphere with a selection of wine by the glass, mulled wine, and hot chocolate provided by E