By Tyler Osborn Guest Writer This September, the Towns County Historical Society is bringing together local history, literacy, and two women whose legacies share a common thread: a belief in the power of education. Through the “Books, Bricks & Butterflies” campaign, 25% of every donation made during September to the restoration of the historic Berrong-Oakley House will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, helping provide free, age-appropriate books to children fr

The retiring Kentucky senator has released two photographs, missed every roll-call vote since mid-June, and has not said whether he will return when the Senate reconvenes Sept. 14. Staff Report WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitch McConnell has not been seen in public for more than 80 days, a stretch that has left Kentucky without an in-person vote from its senior senator, produced two still photographs that critics still dispute, and prompted the state’s Democratic governor to demand tha

(File Photo) BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County firefighters are now better protected in the most dangerous conditions they face after the department completed a major upgrade to its Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) fleet. The department purchased 120 new MSA SCBAs in late 2025 at a cost of approximately $1,171,000. The project was funded through SPLOST. After setup and training, the new units were placed on every fire apparatus across the county’s 13 stations. Firefigh

A before and after pic show the progress being made on the Berron-Oakley House project. Press Release The Berrong-Oakley House has undergone a major transformation in recent weeks as work continues to preserve the historic Hiawassee landmark for future generations. Thanks to community donations and fundraising efforts led by the Towns County Historical Society, the home’s exterior restoration is now largely complete. One of the largest portions of the project involved restori

RALEIGH — North Carolina public school students posted another year of gains in 2025-26, including a record four-year graduation rate and higher scores on most state tests, according to accountability results presented Wednesday to the State Board of Education. The four-year cohort graduation rate rose to 88.8%, up from a record 87.8% the year before. State officials said the increase moves public schools closer to a “Best in Nation” target in the Department of Public Instruc

Members of the Godfrey family are all smiles after day one of the 30-day challenge. By Travis Dockery The Mountain Buzz HAYESVILLE, NC — A year after their son’s brain tumor diagnosis, Clay County Schools Superintendent Melissa Godfrey and her family spent a week in Florida with one job: be a family. Make-A-Wish granted Cooper Godfrey’s wish this past April, around the one-year mark of his diagnosis in the spring of 2025. The trip included a week at Give Kids the World Villag

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Downtown Blairsville is calling for artists to take part in its first Art Crawl, a free, self-guided event set for 3-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. Organizers say they especially want makers who can demonstrate their craft live outside participating downtown shops. Examples include canvas painting, crocheting, hat burning, wood carving, pottery and jewelry making. Only handmade work will be featured. Artists will be assigned a spot in front of a local merchant. T

Press Release The Town of Murphy will recognize Friday, September 25, as Dolly Parton Day, with Mayor Tim Radford issuing a proclamation encouraging the community to honor the Appalachian icon by doing something good for someone else. The date September 25, or 9/25, was chosen as a fitting tribute to Parton’s famous song and movie 9 to 5. More importantly, the day will celebrate the kindness, generosity, grace, and respect for others that Parton demonstrated throughout her li

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Cherokee County, NC — On August 27, 2026, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (TN) that deputies were pursuing 33-year-old Thomas Lee Prince, who was operating an ATV on US 64. Polk County deputies subsequently terminated their pursuit on Pack Mountain, and deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division responded to the area. A Cherokee County deput

Lily Ponitz Guest Writer The summer tradition of free music on the Hiawassee Town Square winds down this Saturday, September 5 with the final concert for the season. Band of Steel from the Woody Gap School in Blairsville will take the stage at 6:30 PM. This group of sixth to eleventh grade students performs an exciting and entertaining show of rock, pop, and Caribbean music using steel drums. Their repertoire includes hits from bands like The Who, Pat Benatar, Coldplay, Red H

Prices across extreme northeast Georgia and far-western North Carolina have settled into a narrower squeeze: cheaper they are not, but the pain is now concentrated at the pump and in a few grocery staples. Consumer prices in the South, the Bureau of Labor Statistics region that includes Georgia and North Carolina, rose 3.2 percent in the 12 months ending in July. That is up from 2.3 percent a year earlier and down from a 3.9 percent peak in May. There is no separate index for

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Beal Center will host bingo night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at 25 Herbert St. in downtown Hayesville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and include five bingo cards, drinks and light snacks. Organizers say tickets are limited and should be purchased in advance. The Beal Center, the restored historic Clay County Courthouse on the town square, is operated by the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association. Tickets are available online at.

Press Release CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — Cherokee County Sheriff Chris Wood is providing the following clarification regarding the investigation into the February 25 death of Diane Pellington of Cross Creek Lane. The Sheriff’s Office is aware of recent news reports stating that criminal charges are not expected to be filed against the owner of the dogs suspected of being involved in Ms. Pellington’s death. That characterization was based on a conversation between the case detect

HIAWASSEE, Ga. — The Hiawassee Police Department and Towns County Sheriff’s Office will join the Blue Knights for a Law Enforcement Memorial Ride on Saturday, Sept. 12, honoring two Towns County officers killed in the line of duty and raising money for Shop with a Cop programs. The ride will honor Sheriff Jay Vernon Chastain Sr., who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Hiawassee on Dec. 8, 1974, and Deputy Sheriff James E. Taylor, who was struck and killed by a vehic

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Fire and Rescue maintains seven rescue trucks stationed at career and volunteer fire stations across the county, vehicles designed primarily for technical rescues but equipped for a wide range of emergencies. The trucks respond to water rescues, rope rescues, machine extrications and auto extrications from motor vehicle crashes. Department officials note that motor vehicle accidents occur nearly daily, and some involve significant damage or inj

Pictured from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office: Deputy Tristan Howard, Detective T. J. Major, Deputy Jesse Miller, Detective Nick Queen, Deputy Ryan Wilson, Sheriff Chris Wood, and Agent Hunter Wood. Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Cherokee County Deputies Participate in Joint Training with Cherokee Tribal Police Department and Swain County Sheriff’s Office On August 25th, 2026, members of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office participated in a joint law enf

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Cherokee County, NC — Cherokee County Sheriff Chris Wood and Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland, in coordination with the Western North Carolina DWI Task Force, are sponsoring a week-long specialty impaired driving enforcement training designed to enhance the ability of law enforcement officers across Western North Carolina to detect and apprehend impaired drivers. The training began Tuesday and will continue through Friday, bri

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On August 25, 2026, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division was investigating a report of a stolen motor vehicle and trailer when deputies received information that the property owner was following the suspect vehicle on Joe Brown Highway. An agent of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division was in the area and located the suspect vehicle. The agent attempted to conduct a traffic stop; however

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 08/22/26 shortly after 6:25 PM, Clay County Sgt Cory Scroggs and Clay County Officer Nate Rogers responded to the Dollar General Store at 3500 US Hwy 64 East in Hayesville. A report had been received that a woman had been sitting in her car at this location for the prior two hours and was acting abnormally. Upon the Officers’ arrival, Shannon Nicole Silvey, 46 years of age of Hayesville, was found sitting in the driver’s seat of a

TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. — Suspended Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson resigned from office Monday after accepting a negotiated plea deal in Towns County Superior Court that resolved criminal charges linked to a 2024 clash with another law enforcement officer and a separate transaction involving the sale of personal property to the sheriff’s office. Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney Frank Wood said Henderson entered guilty pleas to simple battery against a police o