Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Murphy, NC — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has charged Hayden Rain Moss, 21, of Marble, NC, following an investigation into multiple fraud-related incidents involving vehicle repair services. Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division began receiving reports from individuals and businesses who alleged they paid Moss for vehicle repairs that were either not completed or were improperly performed. In several cases,

BRASSTOWN, NC — The Brasstown Community Center is inviting the public to an evening of live bluegrass music, great food, and community fellowship on Friday, July 18 at 255 Settawig Road in Brasstown, North Carolina. Doors open at 6:00 PM, with music starting at 7:00 PM. Attendees can enjoy a mix of classic traditional bluegrass alongside energetic “new grass” performances — a perfect opportunity for both longtime fans and newcomers to experience the lively sounds of the South

Young Harris, GA — Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church is inviting the community to participate in an Electronic Recycling Day as part of its “Caring for God’s Creation” initiative. The free event will take place on Saturday, August 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the church parking lot. Residents are encouraged to bring unwanted electronics for proper recycling, helping to keep recyclable materials out of local landfills while allowing usable components to be removed

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On July 8, 2026, an agent with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit conducted a traffic stop in the Andrews area of Cherokee County after observing multiple traffic violations. K-9 Deputy Blomgren and K-9 Ellie responded to assist with the investigation. K-9 Ellie conducted a free-air sniff of the vehicle and positively alerted to the odor of narcotics. Agents, with the assistance of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s O

Press Release BLAIRSVILLE, GA — Safe Pet Project, a Blairsville-based nonprofit animal welfare organization, and Lucky Dog Restaurant Group are proud to announce Meals for Mutts: a one-day community fundraiser bringing a proven model to the North Georgia mountains for the first time. Inspired by the Atlanta Humane Society's long-running Tables for Tails event, in which patrons dine at participating restaurants and a portion of their total bill is donated to animal welfare, Me

(Photo provided by Hayesville High School) Father, pastor, coach and now athletic director, Kenneth Dockery poses for an Easter photo with his family. Front row, left to right: Leah and Lydia. Second row: Luke, wife Hope, Kenneth and Laban. HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Kenneth Dockery, a longtime Hayesville High School educator and coach, has been named the new athletic director for the Yellow Jackets. Dockery, who has been part of the Hayesville school system since 2008 except for a b

BRASSTOWN, N.C. — Congressional candidate Jamie Ager will hold a campaign rally July 24 at the Brasstown Community Center featuring live music, food and a festive atmosphere. The public event is scheduled for Thursday evening and will include hot dogs, drinks, famous local homemade pie and other attractions, organizers said. “Join Jamie Ager for a rally in Brasstown on July 24th at the Brasstown Community Center,” the campaign announcement states. “We’ll have music, hot dogs

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The American Red Cross will host a blood drive Tuesday at the Historic Clay County Courthouse/Beal Center to help address ongoing community blood supply needs. The drive is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at 25 Herbert St. in Hayesville. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome with priority given to those who scheduled ahead of time. Donors can make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visiting

Young Harris, Ga. — Carol Pasco is the featured artist for July at the Mountain Regional Library, where several of her watercolor paintings are on display and available for purchase. Pasco’s artistic journey began about seven years ago when she joined an art community. While working in stained glass and lapidary shops, her creativity flourished, but watercolor painting soon became her passion. Under the guidance of two demanding tutors and with encouragement from fellow artis

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — The Blairsville Police Department has opened ticket sales for its 8th Annual Rubber Duck Derby, an event aimed at raising money for the department’s Shop with a Cop program that helps local children shop for Christmas. Each rubber duck costs $10 to adopt. The ducks will be released at 11 a.m. Sept. 5 at the Union County Farmers Market and will race to the finish line, with winning ducks earning prizes, according to a department announcement. Proceeds from t

HAYESVILLE, N.C. – The Clay County Republican Party will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Clay County Community Center. The public is invited to attend. Light refreshments, snacks, and desserts will be served beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room, with the formal business meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a covered dish snack or dessert to share. The evening’s featured guest speaker is Merry Gu

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On July 3, 2026, at approximately 12:40 a.m., members of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling along U.S. 64 after observing multiple traffic violations. During the investigation, deputies determined that a rear-seat passenger, Michael Moore of Acworth, Georgia, was wanted on an outstanding felony probation violation warrant from Georgia. The underlying offenses in

Press Release Murphy, NC –The Town of Murphy announced yesterday that the Murphy Fire Department has earned the highest fire insurance ratings in its history following the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal's (OSFM) 2026 inspection. Effective October 1, 2026, the Town of Murphy Fire District will improve from a Public Protection Classification (PPC) of Class 3 to Class 2, while the Murphy Rural Fire District will improve from Class 4 to Class 3. The new ratings place

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Parents looking for a few hours to themselves will have an opportunity later this month as Clay County Schools hosts a Parents' Night Out event for elementary-aged students. The event is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. and is open to Clay County Schools students who have completed pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. School staff will provide a supervised evening featuring games, crafts, activities and time with friends. Dinner will also

Lily Ponitz Director of Economic Development The summer tradition of free music on the Hiawassee Town Square continues this Saturday, July 11 with Bill Rinaldo taking the stage at 6:30 PM. Bill Rinaldo is an entertainer, PGA golf professional, G.M. of Chatuge Shores Golf Course, and a resident of Hayesville, N.C. He has opened for BJ Thomas, Andy Andrews, Jay Johnson and more. Unique among most variety entertainers, his show is a fun blend of comedy monologues and great music

Press Release The Murphy Town Council approved a resolution authorizing the Town to convey Fort Butler Park and Historical Site to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at no cost, pending completion of the legal transfer process. Fort Butler was located near present-day Murphy and served as an Army headquarters during the forced removal of Cherokee people in 1838 during the Trail of Tears. The property now known as Fort Butler Park sits in the vicinity of that historic site.

Young Harris, Ga. — The Towns County Sheriff's Office has acquired more than $15,000 worth of body armor and ballistic shields through a donation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Redstone Arsenal facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The donation includes eight sets of body armor with carriers, eight sets of heavy ceramic plate body armor and two ballistic shields. The equipment will provide additional protection for deputies responding to high-risk incidents, active thr

MURPHY, N.C. — The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is alerting the public to a nationwide scam in which fraudsters posing as jailers contact people trying to bond out incarcerated family members and demand credit or debit card payments for their release. According to the sheriff's office, multiple individuals have reported being contacted by callers claiming to be jail staff while they were waiting to post bond. The scammers request payment via credit or debit card to "autho

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Clay County Historical and Arts Council will host its 45th annual Festival on The Square this weekend, featuring live music, clogging performances, local art vendors and food from a popular regional barbecue spot. The free event is scheduled for Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12, on the square in Hayesville. Hours are 7-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Friday night will feature a street dance with Quick Brown Fox

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release MURPHY, N.C. — On June 30, 2026, detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Michael Lloyd Johnson on five counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The arrest resulted from a thorough investigation initiated after allegations were made regarding Johnson’s consumption of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The investigation began promptly upon receipt of the report. On May 7, 2026, a search warrant