The Union County Sheriff’s Office is once again alerting residents about an ongoing phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers and threaten arrest over alleged missed jury duty. According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are contacting individuals and falsely claiming they failed to appear for jury duty. The caller then demands immediate payment of a fine, warning that an arrest will follow if the payment is not made right away. Authorities stress that

Clay County Fire and Rescue crews stayed busy over the past week, responding to a range of calls including unauthorized burning, a reported structure fire, and numerous medical emergencies. A little after 11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, firefighters were dispatched to a fire along West Gumlog Road in the Warne Fire District. Upon arrival, crews found a large pile of debris burning. The property owner advised firefighters they had obtained a burn permit; however, an inspection of

As the new year begins, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office has released an update outlining recent progress and developments within the agency, while also reaffirming its commitment to public safety and transparency. According to the sheriff’s office, officials are nearing the completion of their assumption of office processes and have made significant headway in recent weeks. Several pieces of agency-owned equipment that had been unaccounted for have now been returned. The sh

Runners complete the Lake Chatuge Recreation Area loop along the Hiawassee Half Marathon route. Lily Ponitz Director of Economic Development, City of Hiawassee Looking for a fitness goal to kick off healthy habits in 2026? Why not run or walk a scenic, local road race for a good cause. A brand-new event is coming to Hiawassee, Georgia on March 14, 2026, featuring a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 5K (3.1 miles). The Hiawassee Half Marathon & 5K benefits Hikeawassee, a fr

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release Early in the afternoon of 12/28/25, Clay County Officers Donovan Burke and Corey Scroggs were dispatched to 315 River Run Way in Hayesville. A report had been received from this address concerning a physical domestic dispute. Upon their arrival, Officers Burke and Scroggs found family members holding Conner Crews Giles, 30 years of age from Jacksonville Florida, down onto the ground. Family members reported that Giles had been drinki

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On the afternoon of 12/23/25, Clay County Officer Donovan Burke and Investigator Steven Smith responded to 98 Snoozy Park Drive near Brasstown. This response came after a report of a possible overdose by woman undressing in the roadway. Clay County Emergency Management Services (EMS) was also dispatched to this location. The woman was identified as Cassidy Rae Groves, 20 years of age from Brasstown, and was reportedly in possession o

As 2025 comes to a close, residents across North Georgia and Western North Carolina will have no shortage of ways to welcome the arrival of 2026. From lively parties and family-friendly attractions to faith-based gatherings, communities throughout the region are offering a variety of New Year’s Eve celebrations. In Murphy, North Carolina, Chevelles Restaurant & Bar 66, located at 66 Hiawassee Street, will ring in the new year with all-night karaoke and a crowd-pleasing food s

Voters in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District will have an opportunity to hear directly from Democratic candidates later this month during a public candidate forum in Clay County. The NC-11 Democratic Candidate Forum is scheduled for Saturday, January 17, from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. at The Hinton Center, located at 2330 Hinton Center Road. The event is free and open to the public, offering residents a chance to learn more about the candidates and their positions on key i

As talk of snow begins circulating on social media, Mountain Buzz Meteorologist Greg Majewski is urging residents to take long-range winter forecasts with a grain of salt. Majewski said he anticipated the early speculation and cautioned that any snow projections more than seven days out are largely conjecture and unlikely to hold as models update. According to Majewski, recent chatter stems from the European weather model, which has hinted at the possibility of snow across pa

TOWNS COUNTY — The Towns County Sheriff’s Office has issued a legal notice requiring the return of all county-owned property currently in the possession of any individual, setting a deadline of December 31, 2025. According to the notice, anyone holding property belonging to the Sheriff’s Office must return it during normal business hours. The notice applies to all county-issued items, including equipment, uniforms, badges, identification, keys, money, electronics, weapons, d

As the candidate filing period for the upcoming 2026 election cycle  in Clay County, North Carolina  comes to a close, voters are being introduced to the full slate of candidates who will appear on the ballot. The county’s primary election will take place on March 3, 2026 , following the filing period that opened in early December 2025 and wrapped up on December 19, 2025. County Commission Race Draws Broad Field The Clay County Board of Commissioners race — traditionally one

Staff Report Clay County Commission Chairman Dr. Rob Peck has announced he will not seek re-election when his current term ends in December 2026, bringing to a close a 12-year tenure on the Clay County Board of Commissioners. Peck, who has served twice as vice chairman and for the past eight years as chairman, said the decision followed “much thoughtful reflection and prayer.” In a statement to county residents, Peck highlighted a record of fiscal discipline and long-term pla

Photo from the Berrong-Oakley House Facebook Page. Staff Report Those in charge of the restoration of the Berrong-Oakley house in Towns County have announced the selected exterior paint colors for the historic Berrong-Oakley House, following an enthusiastic community survey. By an overwhelming margin, a winning color scheme has been chosen and officially approved by the project’s restoration committee. Community input played a central role in the decision-making process. “You

Staff Report Candidate filings for the 2026 election cycle in Clay County continue to take shape as the filing period heads into its final days. According to the most recent filings, a wide field of candidates has entered races for county commission seats, school board positions, and several countywide offices. The filing period officially closes Friday, Dec. 19. The Clay County Board of Commissioners race has drawn the largest number of candidates so far. Republicans Andy Ja

Photo from the Hiawassee Downtown Development Facebook Page. Staff Report Residents and visitors gathered on the Hiawassee Town Square on Tuesday night, December 16, to celebrate Chanukah with the lighting of a 12-foot-tall menorah, marking a festive and meaningful evening for the community. The annual event was hosted by Chabad Rural Georgia, which brings the Chanukah celebration to Hiawassee each year. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to come together to observe the holida

Staff Report The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Mark Buchanan, in partnership with Clay County Department of Social Services, is urging parents and caregivers to follow safe sleep guidelines for infants after two sleep-related infant deaths were reported in the county within the past week. Officials say sudden infant death and accidental suffocation are on the rise across North Carolina. Each year, more than 100 infants statewide die suddenly and unexpectedly wh

Staff Report A report circulating from a local media outlet has prompted some confusion about the upcoming Clay County School Board election. According to that report, newcomer Keith Parker was described as directly challenging School Board Chairman Jason Shook. However, election filings show that Parker has simply entered the race for one of the three school board seats that are up for election this cycle and is not specifically running against Shook for the chairman’s posit

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 12/15/25 at 11:04 AM Clay County Sgt Ethan Henderson and Officer JJ Wooten responded to a residence off Qualla Road in Hayesville. A report had been received about a confused woman being in a home where the resident was away at that time. The Officers found Sonya Ann Miller, 60 years of age from Hayesville, inside the residence. Officers learned that Miller had been allowed inside by the homeowner to get out of the cold and to get

Staff Report The search for Charles Hosch, who went missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail near Blood Mountain, has now entered its fifth week. Union County Emergency Management Agency (UCEMA) and the Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) continue to investigate the case, which remains open, as search efforts persist in coordination with Mr. Hosch’s family. Mr. Hosch was last known to be on the Appalachian Trail on November 11 at approximately 1:30 p.m. He was hiking a fam

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 12/09/25 at 4:22 PM Clay County Investigator Steven Smith stopped a black Nissan truck at the intersection of Pine Log Church Road and Caler Road in Brasstown. The tuck was stopped for having a broken break light, failure to signal a turn, and having an unreadable license plate. Christopher Cody Wiggins, 26 years of age from Brasstown, was found to be driving the truck. Mary Roberson of Brasstown was found to have been a passenger