TOWNS COUNTY — The Towns County Sheriff’s Office has issued a legal notice requiring the return of all county-owned property currently in the possession of any individual, setting a deadline of December 31, 2025. According to the notice, anyone holding property belonging to the Sheriff’s Office must return it during normal business hours. The notice applies to all county-issued items, including equipment, uniforms, badges, identification, keys, money, electronics, weapons, d

As the candidate filing period for the upcoming 2026 election cycle  in Clay County, North Carolina  comes to a close, voters are being introduced to the full slate of candidates who will appear on the ballot. The county’s primary election will take place on March 3, 2026 , following the filing period that opened in early December 2025 and wrapped up on December 19, 2025. County Commission Race Draws Broad Field The Clay County Board of Commissioners race — traditionally one

Staff Report Clay County Commission Chairman Dr. Rob Peck has announced he will not seek re-election when his current term ends in December 2026, bringing to a close a 12-year tenure on the Clay County Board of Commissioners. Peck, who has served twice as vice chairman and for the past eight years as chairman, said the decision followed “much thoughtful reflection and prayer.” In a statement to county residents, Peck highlighted a record of fiscal discipline and long-term pla

Photo from the Berrong-Oakley House Facebook Page. Staff Report Those in charge of the restoration of the Berrong-Oakley house in Towns County have announced the selected exterior paint colors for the historic Berrong-Oakley House, following an enthusiastic community survey. By an overwhelming margin, a winning color scheme has been chosen and officially approved by the project’s restoration committee. Community input played a central role in the decision-making process. “You

Staff Report Candidate filings for the 2026 election cycle in Clay County continue to take shape as the filing period heads into its final days. According to the most recent filings, a wide field of candidates has entered races for county commission seats, school board positions, and several countywide offices. The filing period officially closes Friday, Dec. 19. The Clay County Board of Commissioners race has drawn the largest number of candidates so far. Republicans Andy Ja

Photo from the Hiawassee Downtown Development Facebook Page. Staff Report Residents and visitors gathered on the Hiawassee Town Square on Tuesday night, December 16, to celebrate Chanukah with the lighting of a 12-foot-tall menorah, marking a festive and meaningful evening for the community. The annual event was hosted by Chabad Rural Georgia, which brings the Chanukah celebration to Hiawassee each year. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to come together to observe the holida

Staff Report The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Mark Buchanan, in partnership with Clay County Department of Social Services, is urging parents and caregivers to follow safe sleep guidelines for infants after two sleep-related infant deaths were reported in the county within the past week. Officials say sudden infant death and accidental suffocation are on the rise across North Carolina. Each year, more than 100 infants statewide die suddenly and unexpectedly wh

Staff Report A report circulating from a local media outlet has prompted some confusion about the upcoming Clay County School Board election. According to that report, newcomer Keith Parker was described as directly challenging School Board Chairman Jason Shook. However, election filings show that Parker has simply entered the race for one of the three school board seats that are up for election this cycle and is not specifically running against Shook for the chairman’s posit

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 12/15/25 at 11:04 AM Clay County Sgt Ethan Henderson and Officer JJ Wooten responded to a residence off Qualla Road in Hayesville. A report had been received about a confused woman being in a home where the resident was away at that time. The Officers found Sonya Ann Miller, 60 years of age from Hayesville, inside the residence. Officers learned that Miller had been allowed inside by the homeowner to get out of the cold and to get

Staff Report The search for Charles Hosch, who went missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail near Blood Mountain, has now entered its fifth week. Union County Emergency Management Agency (UCEMA) and the Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) continue to investigate the case, which remains open, as search efforts persist in coordination with Mr. Hosch’s family. Mr. Hosch was last known to be on the Appalachian Trail on November 11 at approximately 1:30 p.m. He was hiking a fam

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 12/09/25 at 4:22 PM Clay County Investigator Steven Smith stopped a black Nissan truck at the intersection of Pine Log Church Road and Caler Road in Brasstown. The tuck was stopped for having a broken break light, failure to signal a turn, and having an unreadable license plate. Christopher Cody Wiggins, 26 years of age from Brasstown, was found to be driving the truck. Mary Roberson of Brasstown was found to have been a passenger

Staff Report A community is rallying to support a Union County family after a deadly mobile home fire claimed the lives of two young children earlier this week. Union County Fire and Rescue confirmed that two children, believed to be ages three and six, died in a structure fire overnight on Sunday, Dec. 14 at Warren Trailer Park. Firefighters from all county stations responded and found a single-wide mobile home fully involved. The cause of the fire remains under investigatio

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Sheriff Dustin Smith is proud to announce the addition of Deputy Christopher Baty and Deputy Michael Guffey to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Baty and Deputy Guffey recently completed six months of intensive law enforcement training at Southwestern Community College, graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program. Their training included criminal law, investigations, emergency response, firearms p

Two young children died in a tragic structure fire Monday at Warren Trailer Park in Union County, according to Union County Fire and Rescue. Firefighters — both career and volunteer — from all Union County Fire Department stations were dispatched to the scene after reports that children were still inside the home. When crews arrived, they found a single-wide mobile home fully engulfed in flames, with the roof already collapsed. Firefighters launched an aggressive attack to br

The race for key local offices in Clay County is heating up as a robust list of candidates has filed their intent to run, promising a competitive election season. The growing roster of hopefuls for positions on the County Commission, School Board, and other essential roles suggests high public interest and potentially lively campaigns across the county. A total of eleven candidates have announced their bids across five offices so far, with the Board of County Commissioners ra

(Photo from Granny's Attic) Recipients, front row left to right: Lori McClure - The Still Place , Debbie Graham - New Digs for Dogs, JoAnna Atkisson - Clay County Communities Revitalization Association , Sue Lynn Ledford - Four Square Community Action, Jeanne Strack - Puppies Under Protection, Robin Sinay - Wonderland Animal Sanctuary , Reba Beck - Clay County Historical and Arts Council . Second Row: Hannah Miller - Clay Co Community for Students, Jacquine - Hinton Center,

Press Release District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch today announced that a Cherokee County Superior Court jury recently found a Marble man guilty of operating a methamphetamine lab. Lars Johnson, 53, attempted to firebomb the lab to prevent detection after deputies secured the location and were awaiting the return of a search warrant. The jury found him guilty of trafficking in 400 grams or more of methamphetamine. Superior Court Judge Craig Croom sentenced Johnson to serve

Tyler Osborn Guest Writer Have you thought of growing a garden, but don’t know where to start? Join our upcoming Seed to Supper course and learn how to grow food at a low cost. This seven-week series teaches how to plant, grow, harvest, and prepare delicious produce in small and medium-sized gardens. Please plan to attend all 7 classes. Participants get a free gardening book, seeds, and other goodies as available. Classes are on Thursdays, January 22 – March 12, at 5:00 p.m.

Photo from the City of Young Harris Facebook Page. Staff Report Children in Young Harris have a newly upgraded destination for fun and imaginative play. The city announced on Tuesday, December 9, that the installation of brand-new playground equipment at Mayor's Park is complete and the area is open for use. Located at 50 Irene Berry Drive, Young Harris, GA 30582, the popular community spot has received a significant refresh, transforming the play area into an exciting space

Mountain Buzz Staff Report The Union County Fire Department is celebrating a milestone for one of its own: Firefighter Jason Reese has successfully completed the Introduction to Color/Honor Guard course held in Cherokee, Georgia. The intensive training, led by a certified instructor from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), equips public safety personnel with the skills needed to perform ceremonial duties with precision and professionalism. Participants master p