Downtown Murphy retailers are keeping the lights on later this fall, giving shoppers a standing Friday-night invitation from now through the holidays. Beginning Friday, October 2, and running through Friday, December 18, participating stores in the downtown district are extending hours, with many staying open until 7 p.m. The stretch is aimed at people who want to wander the sidewalks after work, catch the fall and holiday storefront displays, and still make it to Murphy High

Staff Report Clay County Fire & Rescue is asking residents to take a closer look at what is plugged in around the house this week, as Fire Prevention Week puts the focus on everyday charging habits and the fire risk tied to lithium-ion batteries. Fire Prevention Week runs October 4–10. The National Fire Protection Association, which sponsors the annual campaign, set this year’s theme as “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” Clay County Fire & Rescue is sha

Staff Report Union County will open the doors of its new Communications Center later this month with a ribbon cutting and evening open house. The Union County Communications Center, at 455 Shoe Factory Road in Blairsville, will hold a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 22, 2026. An open house follows the same day from 5 to 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. Officials describe the center as a place for connecting the community, supporting first respon

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 09/28/26 Clay County Lt. Brandon Coker noted a male standing beside a parked on/off road Honda motorcycle at the Hill Top Store located at the intersection of US Hwy 64 and Fires Creek Road. The motorcycle had no license plate affixed to it. Shortly thereafter, the male got on the motorcycle and began traveling east on Highway 64. Lt. Coker attempted to stop the motorcycle rider and a pursuit ensued reaching speeds up to 80 mph. D

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release Clay County Lt. Brandon Coker received two reports from the Hayesville Hot Spot Store Manager that she had discovered the theft of lottery tickets by one of her employees. The employee was identified as Trent Christopher Douthit, 21 years of age from Murphy. The thefts were confirmed by a security video. The thefts occurred on 09/19/26 involving five tickets valued at $250 and on 09/22/26 involving twenty-one tickets valued at $440.

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 09/30/26 at 7:55 PM Clay County Investigator JJ Wooten stopped a white motorcycle near the Dollar General Store located at 36 US Highway 64 Business in Hayesville. The license plate on the motorcycle was revoked, and it was found to be without liability insurance. The rider was found to have been Dwayne Lewis Crowder, 66 years of age from Hayesville. Clay County Chief Deputy Tyler Faggard and NC State Trooper Eric Watson arrived a

Staff Report HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Clay County Schools introduced Dixie, the newest member of its school resource officer team, at the Board of Education’s monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 28. Dixie is still in training and is expected to be certified in drug detection later this year, according to the school system. Officer Shane Mull of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office will serve as her handler. School officials credited the Clay County K9 Initiative, which raised the funds for t

Staff Report BRASSTOWN, N.C. — Anyone curious about Brasstown’s past will have a chance to hear it from a member of one of the community’s oldest families. Johnny Scroggs will hold a meet-and-greet history talk from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Scroggs Farm Shoppe, 10956 Old Highway 64 W., Brasstown. Visitors are invited to meet him, ask questions, and swap stories about the people and places that shaped this corner of Clay and Cherokee counties. Scroggs is a Bras

Staff Report YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — The Towns County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that its welfare check program is an established service and has been expanded to reach more people who may need regular check-ins. The office said it has received questions about welfare check services and wants the public to know the program has been available for years. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the service dates to the administration of former Sheriff Rudy Eller and has cont

Staff Report A Union County firefighter has completed specialized training for emergencies involving horses and other large animals. Firefighter Brooklyn Beaver finished the two-day Large Animal Emergency Response Awareness Course in Athens, the Union County Fire Department said. The course trained first responders on incidents including livestock trailer accidents, barn fires, animals trapped in mud or water, and loose animals in roadways. Participants also learned specializ

Staff Report BRASSTOWN, N.C. — Organizers of the John C. Campbell Folk School’s 50th annual Fall Festival are advising visitors to allow extra travel time this weekend as thousands of people head to the 270-acre campus for the two-day event. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4, rain or shine, at 1 Folk School Road. Officials say they expect a large turnout, with previous years drawing more than 10,000 visitors from across the southern Appala

Press Release HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Clay County Schools is excited to announce plans to replace the synthetic turf at Hayesville High School’s multi-use athletic field, an important investment in a facility that serves students, athletes, families, and community members across Clay County. The current turf was installed in 2012 and has now been in use for approximately 14 years, well beyond its expected 10-year life cycle. The surface is showing deterioration that affects its lo

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On September 24, 2026, members of the Cherokee County Special Operations Division conducted a traffic stop in the area of Mission Road. During the traffic stop, the driver attempted to evade law enforcement by pulling into the driveway of a private citizen and offering the homeowner $50 to allow him inside in an attempt to avoid law enforcement. Deputies made contact with the driver, Terry Joseph McMichael, 43, of Hiawassee, Geor

Staff Report HAYESVILLE, N.C — Former Clay County Sheriff Joe Duckett Shook, a longtime North Carolina law enforcement officer who later returned to the ballot as recently as this year’s Republican primary, has died. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the news on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and issued a statement of condolence. “We here at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office are saddened to learn of the passing of former Clay County Sheriff Joe Shook,” the office said. “We here at

Staff Report HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Historic Hayesville Inc. will host the 13th annual Steins & Wine Around the Square from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct.2 on the historic downtown square. The outdoor tasting event features area wines, beers and food around the courthouse square. North Carolina law requires anyone consuming alcohol to be 21 and present a valid ID. Wristbands are typically issued at the gate. Organizers direct visitors to historichayesvilleinc.com for ticket details,

(Photo by Clay County Schools) Staff Report HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Hayesville FFA chapter received a $12,500 grant Monday night to help open a school farm store on the Clay County Schools campus. Andy VonCanon, Western Region agricultural education coordinator, presented the check from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to agriculture teacher and FFA adviser Silas Brown during the Clay County Board of Education meeting. FFA officers Breanna Patterson, secretary;

Staff Report Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Georgia’s motor fuel excise tax for 30 days starting at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, offering immediate savings at the pump for drivers in Towns and Union counties and drawing shoppers from neighboring Clay and Cherokee counties in North Carolina. The order, issued Monday after Kemp declared a state of emergency over global oil-market volatility and petroleum supply disruptions, pauses the state’s 33.3-cents-per-gallon tax on gasoline and 37.3-ce

Staff Report HAYESVILLE, NC — The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is pushing back against a Facebook post that accuses local law enforcement of refusing to help a woman and her baby after they ran out of gas on a back road. In a post from Shooting Creek, a Facebook user posting as Arthur Maynard wrote that “the Sheriff Office was called the other night around 9:30” after a woman ran out of gas while traveling with a baby. He said she asked for a gallon of fuel so she could get h

(Photo by Ashley Elver) The cast of the upcoming production of 'Sherlock Homes'. From left: Alex Giles, Angela Stiles, Jon Jordan, Grace MacLean and David Cady By Harrison Keely Guest Writer There’s just one week left until Sherlock Holmes takes over Hayesville’s Peacock Performing Arts Center to tackle the show’s titular “final adventure.” The renowned sleuth is portrayed by Hiawassee resident Alex Giles. Giles has starred in a spate of Peacock shows over the past few years

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Clay County public safety agencies will host a free Public Safety Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Clay County Recreation ball fields. The event is designed to let residents meet local first responders, see emergency vehicles and equipment up close, and take part in safety demonstrations. Organizers say families can climb aboard fire trucks, sheriff’s vehicles and ambulances, and that a medical helicopter is expected to be on display. C