Staff Report A community is rallying to support a Union County family after a deadly mobile home fire claimed the lives of two young children earlier this week. Union County Fire and Rescue confirmed that two children, believed to be ages three and six, died in a structure fire overnight on Sunday, Dec. 14 at Warren Trailer Park. Firefighters from all county stations responded and found a single-wide mobile home fully involved. The cause of the fire remains under investigatio

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Sheriff Dustin Smith is proud to announce the addition of Deputy Christopher Baty and Deputy Michael Guffey to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Baty and Deputy Guffey recently completed six months of intensive law enforcement training at Southwestern Community College, graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program. Their training included criminal law, investigations, emergency response, firearms p

Two young children died in a tragic structure fire Monday at Warren Trailer Park in Union County, according to Union County Fire and Rescue. Firefighters — both career and volunteer — from all Union County Fire Department stations were dispatched to the scene after reports that children were still inside the home. When crews arrived, they found a single-wide mobile home fully engulfed in flames, with the roof already collapsed. Firefighters launched an aggressive attack to br

The race for key local offices in Clay County is heating up as a robust list of candidates has filed their intent to run, promising a competitive election season. The growing roster of hopefuls for positions on the County Commission, School Board, and other essential roles suggests high public interest and potentially lively campaigns across the county. A total of eleven candidates have announced their bids across five offices so far, with the Board of County Commissioners ra

(Photo from Granny's Attic) Recipients, front row left to right: Lori McClure - The Still Place , Debbie Graham - New Digs for Dogs, JoAnna Atkisson - Clay County Communities Revitalization Association , Sue Lynn Ledford - Four Square Community Action, Jeanne Strack - Puppies Under Protection, Robin Sinay - Wonderland Animal Sanctuary , Reba Beck - Clay County Historical and Arts Council . Second Row: Hannah Miller - Clay Co Community for Students, Jacquine - Hinton Center,

Press Release District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch today announced that a Cherokee County Superior Court jury recently found a Marble man guilty of operating a methamphetamine lab. Lars Johnson, 53, attempted to firebomb the lab to prevent detection after deputies secured the location and were awaiting the return of a search warrant. The jury found him guilty of trafficking in 400 grams or more of methamphetamine. Superior Court Judge Craig Croom sentenced Johnson to serve

Tyler Osborn Guest Writer Have you thought of growing a garden, but don’t know where to start? Join our upcoming Seed to Supper course and learn how to grow food at a low cost. This seven-week series teaches how to plant, grow, harvest, and prepare delicious produce in small and medium-sized gardens. Please plan to attend all 7 classes. Participants get a free gardening book, seeds, and other goodies as available. Classes are on Thursdays, January 22 – March 12, at 5:00 p.m.

Photo from the City of Young Harris Facebook Page. Staff Report Children in Young Harris have a newly upgraded destination for fun and imaginative play. The city announced on Tuesday, December 9, that the installation of brand-new playground equipment at Mayor's Park is complete and the area is open for use. Located at 50 Irene Berry Drive, Young Harris, GA 30582, the popular community spot has received a significant refresh, transforming the play area into an exciting space

Mountain Buzz Staff Report The Union County Fire Department is celebrating a milestone for one of its own: Firefighter Jason Reese has successfully completed the Introduction to Color/Honor Guard course held in Cherokee, Georgia. The intensive training, led by a certified instructor from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), equips public safety personnel with the skills needed to perform ceremonial duties with precision and professionalism. Participants master p

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 12/02/25 around 8:00 PM Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard, Investigator Steven Smith, Investigator Brandon Coker, and Officer Sean Stout stopped a blue Ford Edge near the intersection of NC Hwy 175 and Jack Rabbit Road in Hayesville. This vehicle was known to be driven by Richard Frederick Willis, 38 years of age from Hayesville, who had a suspended driver’s license. The vehicle was also found to have an expired registration plate. Wi

Clay County Schools is delighted to announce that six dedicated educators  from Hayesville Elementary and Hayesville Primary Schools have successfully achieved the rigorous National Board Certification  in Early Childhood Generalist . This advanced certification is a testament to their mastery of teaching practice and their profound commitment to student success. The newly certified teachers are: Mrs. Katie Danner , 3rd Grade Teacher at Hayesville Elementary School, a 10-year

Lily Ponitz Guest Writer Young Harris College and the City of Hiawassee announced a collaboration designed to provide YHC students and area entrepreneurs new opportunities and resources via the Paris Business Center.   The Paris Business Center, located in Downtown Hiawassee, offers a hub for small business entrepreneurs in North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Southeastern Tennessee. The PBC provides business development programs such as coaching, workshops, and network

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On December 1, 2025 Deputies with Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office assisted by Officers from Andrews Police Department responded to 115 LJ Moss Ln in the Marble community. Deputies were attempting to serve a warrant for Felony Larceny on Levi Charles Moss. Upon arrival, deputies made multiple attempts to get Moss to exit the residence and a standoff ensued when Moss refused those requests. Deputies were then able to contact Moss

Lily Ponitz Guest Writer Chabad of Rural Georgia will light a 12-foot public Hanukkah menorah at the Hiawassee Town Square, on Tuesday, December 16th, the 3rd night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, at 5:30pm. The community will be joined by elected officials and dignitaries. The event will feature hot latkes, donuts, festive vibes and more! Complimentary Hanukkah menorahs and candles will be distributed as well for participants to light at home. Rabbi Chaim Markovits, who

(Photo from the TCSO Facebook page.) Acting Sheriff Anthony Coleman awards an award to Casey Mulkey of Mulkey's Wrecker Service at the annual Christmas Parade. Towns County Sheriff's Office Press Release Over the past two weeks, the Towns County Sheriff's Office has remained hard at work as we continue the assumption

The Clay County Board of Commissioners passed a Resolution Opposing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation (BRMEMC) Proposed Transmission Line Project  in Clay County, North Carolina. The resolution was APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND ADOPTED this 4th day of December 2025 . Key Reasons for Opposition The resolution outlines several "WHEREAS" clauses detailing the reasons for the board's strong opposition: Inconsistency wit

Mountain Buzz Staff Report Santa Claus is coming to town this weekend as the annual Candy Cane Lane Christmas Parade returns to downtown Clay County on Saturday, Dec. 13. The parade will step off at 6 p.m., with Santa serving as the grand finale. Before the parade, Santa will take part in his traditional meet-and-greet beginning at 4:45 p.m., giving families an opportunity for early holiday photos and visits. Parade participants are asked to line up at the Clay County Courtho

Mountain Buzz Staff Report The Union County Board of Education has achieved a prestigious honor, being recognized as an Exemplary Board by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) at its 2025 winter conference! This significant distinction is a testament to the Board’s commitment to effective governance practices and its unwavering focus on supporting student success throughout Union County Schools. The community and school district also wish to recognize the combined ser

Travis Dockery Mountain Buzz Residents and passersby along Highway 64 east in Hayesville had been scratching their heads for days over a large Atlas Van Lines moving truck parked beside scenic Lake Chatuge. With no visible activity and the truck sitting idle through the Thanksgiving holiday, concerned citizens flooded the Clay County Sheriff’s Office with calls and messages. On Thursday, Dec. 4, the Sheriff’s Office put the speculation to rest with a lighthearted social media

The Union County Sheriff’s Office will host its next Scam & Fraud Awareness Class on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Blairsville Public Library, located at 303 Hunt Martin Street. The free class is open to the public and will feature important information presented by the Union County Sheriff’s Office and Tri-State Tech Support. Topics will include current scam trends, how to recognize common fraud schemes, and steps to protect personal and financial informa