Photo from the Downtown Murphy NC Facebook page. The Town of Murphy has announced the retirement of Downtown Director Laura Lachance, crediting her with accelerating economic development efforts and elevating the town’s profile across the state. During her tenure, Lachance guided Downtown Murphy to designation in the North Carolina Main Street Program in just two years—surpassing the typical three-year timeline and positioning the town for long-term growth and recognition. M

Community members gathered in Hiawassee for a remembrance ceremony honoring children lost during the Holocaust, as part of the global The Daffodil Project. The event, held at the Children’s Daffodil Gardens, was hosted by the Towns-Union Master Gardener Association and also took place in nearby Blairsville. Organizers described the turnout as strong, with community members coming together to reflect and remember. Mark Noyd, project manager, and Grace Howard were recognized fo

The Clay County Board of Education recognized a group of middle and high school band students during its meeting this week for their selection to the Far West Honors Band. Board members acknowledged both Hayesville High School (HHS) and Hayesville Middle School (HMS) students, noting that several honorees were unable to attend the meeting. At the high school level, seniors Ann Gibson and Grace Gibson earned top honors as first chair flute and first chair trumpet, respectively

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On March 18, 2026, at approximately 11:20 a.m., deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported breaking and entering in progress at a residence located at 4545 W U.S. 64. Upon arrival, deputies observed a vehicle parked in the driveway of the residence. The property owners arrived on scene and advised that the residence had been unoccupied for approximately ten years and that a vehicle had previously b

Firefighters with Union County Fire & Rescue spent two days sharpening life-saving skills during a specialized auto extrication training held March 14–15. The department partnered with the North American Vehicle Rescue Association (NAVRA) to deliver the hands-on course, which focused on both foundational techniques and newer methods used in emergency vehicle rescues. During the training, firefighters reviewed core extrication principles while also learning updated strategies

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Cherokee County Sheriff Chris Wood announces the arrest of Robert Gee Stalcup,44 of Murphy on multiple charges related to weapons violations and failure to comply with sex offender registry requirements. On March 18, 2026, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of shots fired on Willow Tree Lane in the Ranger community. Cherokee County Dispatch advised that a male subject was walking along the roadway act

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was honored to welcome District Attorney Ashley Welch, the elected District Attorney for Prosecutorial District 43, for a visit to our office today. During her time with us, District Attorney Welch received a comprehensive overview of our current operating procedures, including how our deputies and staff work daily to serve and protect the citizens of Cherokee County. As part of the visit, she

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has received a donation of five patrol rifles from local business owner Doc Wacholz, helping the agency begin replacing an aging inventory of equipment. According to a statement shared on social media, Wacholz, owner of Cherokee Guns, presented the rifles to the department, a contribution officials say would have cost more than $5,000 if purchased. Sheriff’s officials said the new rifles will enhance deputies’ ability to respond to calls while

Press Release Free Bird Southern Spring Water will make its official NASCAR Cup Series debut as the primary sponsor of Chase Briscoe's No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing at Darlington Raceway on March 22, marking a major milestone for the fast-rising Southern beverage brand. The Darlington race marks the first time Free Bird will appear as the primary partner on Briscoe's car, launching a three-race primary sponsorship schedule during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series seas

As spring arrives, Union County Fire and Rescue is reminding residents about the importance of safe outdoor burning practices to prevent wildfires. Each year, officials share guidance as more residents begin burning leaves and yard debris. While many of these fires are small and contained on private property, they can still raise concerns due to visible smoke. Fire officials say most are controlled burns and not cause for alarm, but proper precautions remain critical. Under G

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC is warning members about a phone scam reported by multiple customers involving fraudulent claims of unpaid balances. According to the utility, several members reported receiving calls from individuals claiming they owed money on their accounts. The callers allegedly instructed victims to visit a Dollar General store and purchase a specific form of payment. BRMEMC officials emphasized that the company does not conduct business in that manner and will ne

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Cherokee Guns, LLC and its owner, Doc Wacholz, for their generous donation of five AR-15 rifles to our agency. These rifles will be used to support law enforcement operations and help ensure that our deputies have the equipment necessary to effectively respond to a variety of situations in the field. Community partnerships play a vital role in h

The Union County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents that they may soon receive letters in the mail from the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association asking for support through a $25 membership. In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office said the mailing is legitimate and supports programs that benefit all 159 sheriff’s offices across the state. According to the agency, money collected through memberships goes directly to the association to help fund training, education and other initi

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release An arrest has been made following a months-long investigation into a series of intentionally set fires in the Martins Creek Community. On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Murphy Police Department, the North Carolina Forest Service, and the Georgia Forest Service arrested Kevin James Roper, 48 of Blairsville, Georgia, in connection with multiple fires that were deliberately set in w

Dr. Rob Peck Chairman Clay County Board of Commissioners It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dear colleague and friend, Commissioner Dwight Penland. Dwight dedicated more than 27 years to public service in Clay County — 19 of those as a County Commissioner and eight years on the Board of Education before that. He was a voice of reason and an unyielding advocate for our community, helping bring forward vital improvements including our new courthouse, P

Motorists traveling through Hiawassee should expect traffic changes Saturday morning as portions of U.S. Route 76 and Georgia State Route 288 will have lane closures for the Hiawassee Half Marathon and 5K. According to event organizers, one lane of SR 288 and US 76 will be closed during the race. Traffic cone placement will begin at 6 a.m., with official lane closures starting at 7 a.m. Roads will reopen on a rolling basis as runners clear the course, with all lanes expected

Photo from the UCFR Facebook page. Work continues on a new facility that will soon house the Union County 911 Dispatch Center, with officials reporting significant construction progress since the project began last year. According to a recent update from Union County Fire and Rescue, groundbreaking for the new building began in May 2025. In the months since, the structure has taken shape with the building now framed, exterior walls completed and the roof finished. Crews are c

On March 3, 2026, at 6:43 p.m., Clay County Officer Sean Stout, with his K-9 Freya, stopped a Buick LeSabre in the area of U.S. Highway 64 East and Jackie Cove Road in Hayesville. The vehicle was stopped due to having no functional taillights. Officer Stout identified the driver as Gregory Austin Orr, 47, of Robbinsville. Melissa Ann McCarter, 53, of Elizabethton, Tennessee, was identified as a passenger in the vehicle. Orr was unable to produce a registration for the car. Cl

Press Release The Clay County Republican Party will hold its annual Precinct and County Conventions on Thursday, March 19 2026, in the restored courtroom upstairs at the Beal Center/Historic Clay County Courthouse, on the Square in downtown Hayesville. The primary purpose of the conventions is to elect delegates to the 11th District and State Republican Conventions for 2026.   Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Everyone must be registered no later than 5:30 p.m. The Precinct Conventions

The Towns Union Master Gardener Association is inviting the community to participate in a special observance honoring children lost in the Holocaust and supporting children affected by humanitarian crises today. The event, Remember the Children Observance Day, will take place Tuesday, March 10, at 3:30 p.m. at Lloyd’s Landing Park, 458 Azalia Drive. Attendees will gather at the Daffodil Project Garden, where a short program will include a brief history of the Daffodil Project