A woman was arrested earlier this month by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office on drug and traffic-related charges. According to jail records, Laura Surelle Henry, 53, was booked into the Clay County Detention Center on Feb. 5 and released on Feb. 7. She is listed as homeless, with Hayesville as her last known location. Henry faces the following charges, all currently listed as pre-trial: Possession of a Schedule II controlled substance Maintaining a place for controlled substan

The Union County Sheriff’s Office has recognized the Union County Public Library for its ongoing partnership in helping educate residents about scams and fraud. For the past several years, Sgt. Bob Calamari has presented a Scam and Fraud Awareness program aimed at helping people identify common scams and avoid becoming victims. The sheriff’s office said the library has played a vital role by providing space for the classes and supporting efforts to educate the community. Acco

More than 23,000 North Carolina public high school seniors have accepted direct college admission offers through the NC College Connect program. Between August 2025 and January 2026, students accepted over 88,000 offers, representing roughly 21% of the Class of 2026. The program, now in its second year, automatically matches qualifying seniors—those with a 2.8 GPA or higher—to colleges and universities across the state, removing the need for a traditional application. State S

Clay County Fire and Rescue crews responded to 32 calls for service from January 31 through February 7, according to department reports. The majority of incidents were medical emergencies, totaling 24 calls, highlighting the ongoing demand for emergency medical services in the community. Fire and rescue personnel also responded to two motor vehicle collisions and provided assistance to citizens on four occasions. Crews battled one brush fire during the week, and one call was

Gardeners in Zone 7 — which includes Clay and Cherokee counties in North Carolina and Towns and Union counties in Georgia — can take advantage of February to get a jump on the growing season by starting certain seeds indoors. While outdoor planting is still limited this time of year, February is considered an ideal month to begin slow-growing plants from seed. Starting early allows seedlings to develop strong root systems before being transplanted outside once warmer temperat

(Photo by Pam Roman) Wizards make magic: Kneeling: David Cady and David Heslin. Standing: Kay Thomas, Michele Legue, Kathy Wright, Dianne Spelts, and Margaret Jones (not pictured: Janice Minette) By Harrison Keely Guest Writer The Peacock Performing Arts Center’s first play of 2026 may feature just four actors, but Chapter Two is supported by a dedicated behind-the-scenes crew working to make the show run seamlessly. Written by legendary playwright Neil Simon, Chapter Two

This statement is being issued in response to a recent newspaper headline authored by Mr. Henderson and subsequent requests from the media for clarification. Absent those requests, I would not have issued a public rebuttal. I will not comment on Mr. Henderson or his pending case, which is before the courts. This statement is issued solely to address inaccurate claims regarding narcotics enforcement and to ensure the public has accurate information regarding the lawful operati

Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith announced Thursday that he will resign effective Friday and will not seek reelection, following a public call for his resignation from District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch citing a “loss in confidence, trust, and respect” in his leadership. Welch formally requested Smith’s resignation in a letter, saying ongoing issues within the sheriff’s office had negatively impacted the criminal justice system and raised concerns about officer safety

The Clay County 4-H program is hosting its annual Fruit Plant Sale, offering residents the opportunity to purchase a wide variety of fruit plants and trees while supporting local youth programs. Orders are being accepted from February 1 through March 15 . Available plants include apples, peaches, cherries, pears and plums, along with strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. The sale also features elderberries, grapes, muscadines, pawpaws, persimmons and figs.

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that Property and Evidence Manager Stephanie Elliott and Lieutenant Bruce Moore have recently earned certification in Property and Evidence Room Management through the North Carolina Justice Academy. This specialized certification reflects advanced training in proper collection, storage, security, and disposition of property and evidence handled by law enforcement agencies. Thei

The Union County Fire Department announced that Sergeant Hudson Anderson and Firefighter Kyle Mead have successfully completed the 32-hour Acting Officer in Charge course at the Georgia Fire Academy. The specialized program is designed to prepare firefighters to assume supervisory roles during emergency incidents and daily operations. Participants receive training in leadership, decision-making, incident command, personnel accountability, and effective communication, ensuring

UNION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Press Release On January 28, 2026, a deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford Focus based on traffic violations that he observed. There was an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, and several parts of the story provided by the driver and passenger did not add up. The Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit was called to the scene to assist. Probable cause was developed to conduct a search of the vehi

A 22-year-old from Murphy is heading to the next round of American Idol  after a standout performance on the show’s second episode of the season. Braden Rumfelt appeared on the popular singing competition accompanied by his twin brother, Kellen Rumfelt, who played guitar during the audition. The brothers’ performance of "Girl Crush" impressed all three judges — Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie — earning Braden a unanimous vote to advance. Rumfelt’s audition mar

A 57-year-old Murphy man was killed Sunday night in a weather-related crash in Cherokee County, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The crash happened Feb. 1 on NC 294 near the Tennessee state line. A vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned amid hazardous road conditions, according to NCSHP Lt. Joshua E. Dowdle. The driver was identified as Robert Walker, 57, of Murphy. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dowdle said excessive speed for the road conditio

TVA Press Release The Tennessee Valley Authority recently announced that it is extending the public comment period for proposed transmission system improvements to continue to serve growing electrical load and increase power reliability in the Clay County area of North Carolina. Blue Ridge Mountain EMC is planning to build a substation on Burnt Schoolhouse Road in Clay County. TVA has proposed to build about 7.7 to 9.5 miles of single-circuit transmission line to serve the ne

Even though February’s cold grip still holds much of North Georgia and Western North Carolina — with snow on the ground in many areas — local gardeners are finding practical ways to prepare for the upcoming growing season. Winter’s chill may delay outdoor planting, but seasonal experts and extension services say there’s plenty that can be done now to lay the groundwork for a successful spring and summer garden. “February isn’t a time to put your tools away,” said a gardening

A powerful winter storm is set to impact north Georgia and nearby mountain areas this weekend, bringing snow, strong winds and dangerously cold temperatures to Towns, Union, Clay and Cherokee counties. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Union and Towns counties from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Sunday. Forecasters say the system is expected to produce 2 to 4 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts possible, especially in higher elevations. Wi

A winter weather system is forecast to arrive in Union County over the weekend, bringing snow and dangerously cold temperatures, according to Union County Government officials. Snow accumulation is expected to begin after midnight and continue through Saturday afternoon. The Union County Road Department said it is prepared to deploy resources as needed to help keep roads passable and maintain travel access throughout the county. Officials said the greater concern is the extre

According to WJRB in Young Harris, the criminal case against Towns County Sheriff Ken Henderson is moving forward as his attorneys ask a judge to throw out the October grand jury indictments. The defense argues the grand jury was improperly formed, claiming one juror was not a Towns County resident and that the panel included a disproportionate number of women. Despite the motions, Henderson’s attorney expects the case to go to trial this spring. Henderson has pleaded not gui

Clay County Fire and Rescue responded to 20 calls for service between Jan. 19 and Jan. 23, according to the department. Medical emergencies accounted for the majority of responses, with 13 calls during the five-day period. Fire and rescue crews also responded to three motor vehicle collisions. The remaining calls included one residential fire, one brush fire, and one fire alarm that was determined to be a false alarm. One additional call resulted in units being dispatched but