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

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

Press Release On October 10, 2025, Clay County entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management to facilitate expedited assistance with debris removal resulting from Tropical Storm Helene. Tropical Storm Helene caused unprecedented damage and debris in Western North Carolina. Accumulated debris in our waterways creates emergencies and urgent conditions that require timely removal to protect health and safety and avert additional

Press Release Dr. Brian Mitchell, a beloved physician whose decades of service helped shape the landscape of healthcare in Western North Carolina, is the subject of a newly-released mini-documentary by local filmmaker Harrison Keely. Titled “Brian Mitchell – The small-town doctor who changed everything,” the film follows Mitchell’s journey from his childhood in Boston to his pivotal era at Murphy Medical Center, now known as Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital. “Dr. Mitchell’s

Voters in the Town of Hayesville made their choices Tuesday, November 4, in a local election that decided the mayor’s office and seats on the town council. Benita C. England won the race for mayor with a commanding 71.74% of the vote, earning 66 ballots in her favor. Michael R. Castellano received 26 votes, or 28.26%. No write-in votes were recorded in the contest. In the race for Hayesville Town Council, where voters could select up to three candidates, Vanessa Lauren Tiger

Newly re-elected Mayor James Reid shared this photo on social media of his celebration with his family. ANDREWS, N.C. –  Voters in the Town of Andrews made their choices Tuesday night, electing mayor and two members to the Board of Aldermen in a pair of tightly contested races. James D. Reid kept the mayor’s seat with 51.75% of the vote, narrowly defeating Brandi Smith, who received 47.66%. Two write-in votes accounted for 0.58% of the total. In the Board of Aldermen race, wh

Voter support for a proposed new penny sales tax in Union County came up short in Tuesday’s election. The controversial Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) was voted down by a margin of roughly 700 votes, with 55.85% voting “no” and 44.15% voting “yes” out of approximately 5,900 total ballots cast. Supporters of FLOST promoted the measure as a way to lower property taxes by shifting some of the revenue burden to a higher consumer sales tax. The county’s sales tax rate cur

MURPHY, N.C. — Voters in the Town of Murphy went to the polls Tuesday and overwhelmingly re-elected Tim Radford as mayor. Radford secured another term with 93.92% of the vote, receiving 139 votes compared to 9 write-ins. In the race for Murphy Town Council, voters selected six candidates from a crowded field. Cindy Chastain led the pack with 138 votes (16.77%), followed closely by Charlene Smith with 136 votes (16.52%) and Jonathan D. Dickey with 133 votes (16.16%). Barry McC

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith announces the arrest of a Murphy man after a domestic dispute and attempted arson of an occupied dwelling. On October 29, 2025, Deputies and Detectives with Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1224 Old Ranger Road in the Murphy community of Cherokee County in reference to reports of a domestic dispute. While responding, additional information was obtained that Asif Munshi was attempting to ignite the reside

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release A Cherokee County man was arrested following a vehicle pursuit and collision with law enforcement on Friday, October 31, 2025. A Narcotics Agent with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop after discovering that the vehicle driven by Kobe Carter of Murphy had an expired registration. Carter failed to stop and attempted to flee from law enforcement, prompting a pursuit. During the chase, the Agent attempted

A Hayesville man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after repeatedly trespassing on the property of Carolina Christian Academy and First Free Will Baptist Church during school hours while carrying a chainsaw. Authorities say 47-year-old Eric Roberson had previously been warned not to return to the property. Despite the warning, he reportedly came back twice earlier in the day before being seen again around noon. At that time, children were outside for recess. School staff quickly

Union County officials have announced a temporary detour as part of the ongoing widening project along Highway 515 between Blairsville and Young Harris. According to information shared by the Union County Government, construction crews will be implementing a detour near the Trackrock Gap area beginning December 1, 2025. The detour is expected to remain in place for about 30 days while workers adjust side roads to match the new roadway elevation. For motorists traveling from B

As the holiday season approaches, Union County Family Connection is reminding parents and caregivers that Christmas assistance is available for children in need. Families who have not yet been contacted about this program are encouraged to reach out to the office at 706-835-4351 . To qualify for assistance, at least one child must be enrolled in and actively attending a Union County school, including Headstart and MECHS programs. Once this requirement is met, any other childr

YOUNG HARRIS - According to WJRB in Young Harris, Towns County Chief Deputy Gene Moss has officially retired after 47 years in law enforcement, saying this time it’s for good. Moss quietly submitted his resignation Wednesday, days after Superior Court Judge Joy Parks appointed Anthony Coleman, a retired Georgia State Patrol lieutenant, as interim sheriff following the suspension of Sheriff Ken Henderson. A Hayesville High School graduate, Moss previously served more than 30

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — With the federal government shutdown raising concerns about possible delays in assistance programs, several organizations across Clay County are making sure local families still have food on the table. The Clay County Food Pantry on Hinton Center Road continues to serve residents every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. The pantry is open to Clay County residents and TEFAP recipients. For more details, call 828-389-1657. In Brasstown

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 10/25/25 at 2:17 PM a resident of Chatuge Village Circle traveled to a community dock to check on the whereabouts of his part time neighbor, Lewis Preston Stallings 69 years of age from Tallahassee, Florida. The neighbor had seen Stallings’ golf cart parked at the dock since the previous day. During the previous night around 8:00 PM, the neighbor had seen a boat arrive to the dock and believed it to have been Stallings arriving ba

HAYESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 28, 2025)  — Hayesville High School’s junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams presented a donation Tuesday to local resident Teresa Moss Lockaby, showing their support in her fight against breast cancer. The funds were raised during the teams’ recent Pink Out Night  game against Robbinsville, an annual event that promotes breast cancer awareness. Players, coaches and fans wore pink and contributed through donations and other activities during the ma

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On October 25, 2025, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for equipment violations and failure to maintain lane in the Murphy area of Cherokee County, North Carolina. During the course of the stop, the driver, identified as Darren Ray Carter, denied consent for a search of the vehicle. A K-9 unit responded to the traffic stop and K-9 “Epic,” was dep

HIAWASSEE, Ga. — Towns County residents are left with immediate uncertainty over local law enforcement and longer-term questions about oversight and public trust after Sheriff Kenneth “Ken” Henderson was suspended by the governor, indicted by a grand jury and booked on multiple charges stemming from a December 2024 confrontation at a shooting scene. Gov. Brian Kemp ordered a 60-day suspension of Henderson earlier this month while state authorities investigated the episode. Th

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.  — The Union County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $55,917 High Visibility Enforcement grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to support efforts aimed at reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities on Georgia roads. The funding, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will be used for equipment purchases and to offset the cost of salaries for deputies assigned to the program. The grant will run through September 2026. Ac