BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — A man in his 70s died by suicide Monday morning at the Union County VA Clinic, authorities confirmed. Union County Dispatch received a call at 10:06 a.m. reporting a person with a single gunshot wound at the clinic. Deputies and EMS responders arrived within minutes and began assessing the situation, according to a sheriff’s office press release. The man, who was visiting the Veterans Affairs office and was not from Union County, was found by an office empl

BRASSTOWN, N.C. — The Brasstown Community Center will welcome back the bluegrass group Just Us for a live performance on Saturday, Aug. 15. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the music scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the center located at 255 Settawig Road. Admission is $10 for adults, while children under 12 are free. All proceeds will support the ongoing upkeep of the community center. Hot dogs, peach cobbler, ice cream and other refreshments will be available for purchase during t

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Live runway webcams are now available at Blairsville Municipal Airport, airport officials announced. The cameras provide views looking down Runway 08 and Runway 26 at the airport, identified by the FAA code KDZJ. Officials said the feeds offer pilots, aviation enthusiasts and community members a real-time look at airport activity. Viewers can watch aircraft movements, check current weather and runway conditions, and observe day-to-day operations. The camera

Clay County Emergency Management Press Release Did you know that during an emergency, it can sometimes be difficult for first responders to obtain important medical information? If you are unconscious, confused, seriously injured, or otherwise unable to communicate, EMS may not know your medical history, medications, allergies, or who to contact. Take a few minutes today to set up the Medical ID/Emergency Information on your phone. Many smartphones allow emergency responders

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release Sheriff Mark Buchanan of Clay County hopes this school year gets off to a great start! Many parents may be nervous going into the school year, especially if their little one is attending school for the very first time. To help ease their minds, Sheriff Buchanan has some practical tips and skills that parents can share with their kids before they start the school year. “Summer break is coming to an end in Clay County, and we are so ex

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On July 31, 2025, deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported road rage incident that originated from a domestic dispute near the intersection of Notley River Road and Spur 60. Upon arrival, deputies discovered an overturned 2007 Ford Taurus and identified the driver as Shawn Panther, who resides on Dixie Drive off Notley River Road. Following an investigation and interviews with witnesses and those

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Sheriff Chris Wood announces the arrest of 51-year-old Michael Christopher Graves of Murphy, North Carolina, following a months-long investigation conducted by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. In February 2026, detectives executed a search warrant at Graves' residence, where numerous electronic devices were seized as part of the investigation. During a forensic examination of one of the electronic devices recovered from Grav

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has charged a suspect following an investigation into the theft of a side-by-side utility vehicle from the Bear Paw Resort community. On July 18, 2026, a resident of Bear Paw Resort in the Hiawassee Dam community reported that his 2013 Polaris side-by-side had been stolen while he was away from his residence that evening. Detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office immediately began i

The Beal Center will host its August wine tasting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Tickets cost $30 per person and are required. The price includes five wine tastings and five food pairings. Only 80 tickets are available, and 45 have already been sold. Organizers encourage people to buy tickets soon to reserve a spot. Tickets may be purchased through Claudia during office hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. For questions or to buy tick

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Clay County Republican Party will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Clay County Community Center, 25 Riverside Drive. Light refreshments, snacks and desserts will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m., with the business meeting scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a covered dish, snack or dessert to share. Sarah Stevens, the Republican candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court in the November 2026 gener

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On July 4, 2026, Deputies Wilson and Blomgren with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on Carvers View Trail after a homeowner reported discovering suspected illegal narcotics in a guest bedroom occupied by an individual who was visiting from Florida. With the homeowner's consent, deputies searched the room and located suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, suspected controlled substances and drug paraphe

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On August 1, 2026, Deputy Blomgren with Cherokee County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a stolen 2009 Polaris Ranger from a residence on Olive Branch Way. During the investigation, deputies learned that Joseph Whitener was suspected of taking the vehicle without permission. Messages sent by Whitener to the victim acknowledged he had borrowed the side-by-side and requested that law enforcement not be contacted. Based on

Press Release The restoration of the historic Berrong-Oakley House in downtown Hiawassee continues to make steady progress, with crews spending the past several weeks focused on preserving one of the home’s defining architectural features, its original wood siding and architectural details. Workers have been washing, repairing, and preparing the exterior for paint as part of the ongoing restoration. Thanks to careful preservation efforts, roughly 99% of the home’s original s

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announced early Wednesday that he is withdrawing from his re-election campaign and will complete his current term representing Western North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. “After much prayer, thoughtful reflection, and many conversations with my family, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” Edwards said in a statement. “I will complete my current term.” The decision comes two d

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina drivers will no longer receive annual license plate registration stickers or automatic paper vehicle registration cards beginning Oct. 1 as the state Division of Motor Vehicles shifts to an electronic registration system. The change, included in the state budget signed into law earlier this summer, directs the DMV to maintain vehicle registration records electronically. Existing license plates will remain valid, and drivers will still need to re

Towns County Sheriff's Office Press Release In a coordinated effort to combat drug-related crime and to protect the community, the Towns County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with the Hiawassee Police Department and the joint S.C.O.U.T. Task Force, successfully conducted an operation today, July 31, 2026. This operation led to the arrest of two individuals facing serious charges, including: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute Possession of Marijuana with

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Emergency Management Agency is introducing a new free alert system that will notify residents of emergencies, severe weather and other public safety issues through text messages, phone calls or email. The RAVE Alert System delivers three types of notifications. Emergency alerts cover situations such as evacuations, fires, floods, chemical spills and other life-threatening events. Weather warnings automatically notify residents of severe weather

Photo by Pam Roman Foreground: Cameron LeJeune. On stage (L to R): Abiagael Shields, Ryleigh Elver, David Heyer, Natalie Schaible, Leta Reeves, Dakotah Waldroop, Deborah Meigs, Michael Lindsey, Hope Ledford, Jordan Legue, Ed Legue, Ashley Elver, Lincoln Carpenter, Karl Snow, and kneeling is Dylan Mason. By Harrison Keely Guest Writer Revenge has never sounded so good. 9 to 5: The Musical (now on stage at the Peacock Performing Arts Center) follows three women who finally dec

Towns County Corner Tamela Cooper stands with newly named Deputy Coroner, David Phillips. TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. — The Towns County Coroner’s Office has welcomed David Phillips as its newest deputy coroner. Phillips joined the office in July and completed basic coroner training earlier that month at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. Officials say he brings a strong commitment to serving families with compassion, dignity, and respect during some of life’s most difficult mo

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On July 30, 2026, at approximately 8:47 p.m., a narcotics agent with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a motorcycle displaying no registration plate. After the agent activated his emergency lights and siren, the motorcycle failed to stop, initiating a pursuit on Blairsville Highway. The pursuit ended safely when a civilian vehicle came to a stop in the roadway, allowing the agent to posit