MURPHY, N.C. — Voters in the Town of Murphy went to the polls Tuesday and overwhelmingly re-elected Tim Radford as mayor. Radford secured another term with 93.92% of the vote, receiving 139 votes compared to 9 write-ins. In the race for Murphy Town Council, voters selected six candidates from a crowded field. Cindy Chastain led the pack with 138 votes (16.77%), followed closely by Charlene Smith with 136 votes (16.52%) and Jonathan D. Dickey with 133 votes (16.16%). Barry McC

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith announces the arrest of a Murphy man after a domestic dispute and attempted arson of an occupied dwelling. On October 29, 2025, Deputies and Detectives with Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1224 Old Ranger Road in the Murphy community of Cherokee County in reference to reports of a domestic dispute. While responding, additional information was obtained that Asif Munshi was attempting to ignite the reside

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release A Cherokee County man was arrested following a vehicle pursuit and collision with law enforcement on Friday, October 31, 2025. A Narcotics Agent with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop after discovering that the vehicle driven by Kobe Carter of Murphy had an expired registration. Carter failed to stop and attempted to flee from law enforcement, prompting a pursuit. During the chase, the Agent attempted

A Hayesville man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after repeatedly trespassing on the property of Carolina Christian Academy and First Free Will Baptist Church during school hours while carrying a chainsaw. Authorities say 47-year-old Eric Roberson had previously been warned not to return to the property. Despite the warning, he reportedly came back twice earlier in the day before being seen again around noon. At that time, children were outside for recess. School staff quickly

Union County officials have announced a temporary detour as part of the ongoing widening project along Highway 515 between Blairsville and Young Harris. According to information shared by the Union County Government, construction crews will be implementing a detour near the Trackrock Gap area beginning December 1, 2025. The detour is expected to remain in place for about 30 days while workers adjust side roads to match the new roadway elevation. For motorists traveling from B

As the holiday season approaches, Union County Family Connection is reminding parents and caregivers that Christmas assistance is available for children in need. Families who have not yet been contacted about this program are encouraged to reach out to the office at 706-835-4351 . To qualify for assistance, at least one child must be enrolled in and actively attending a Union County school, including Headstart and MECHS programs. Once this requirement is met, any other childr

YOUNG HARRIS - According to WJRB in Young Harris, Towns County Chief Deputy Gene Moss has officially retired after 47 years in law enforcement, saying this time it’s for good. Moss quietly submitted his resignation Wednesday, days after Superior Court Judge Joy Parks appointed Anthony Coleman, a retired Georgia State Patrol lieutenant, as interim sheriff following the suspension of Sheriff Ken Henderson. A Hayesville High School graduate, Moss previously served more than 30

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — With the federal government shutdown raising concerns about possible delays in assistance programs, several organizations across Clay County are making sure local families still have food on the table. The Clay County Food Pantry on Hinton Center Road continues to serve residents every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. The pantry is open to Clay County residents and TEFAP recipients. For more details, call 828-389-1657. In Brasstown

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 10/25/25 at 2:17 PM a resident of Chatuge Village Circle traveled to a community dock to check on the whereabouts of his part time neighbor, Lewis Preston Stallings 69 years of age from Tallahassee, Florida. The neighbor had seen Stallings’ golf cart parked at the dock since the previous day. During the previous night around 8:00 PM, the neighbor had seen a boat arrive to the dock and believed it to have been Stallings arriving ba

HAYESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 28, 2025)  — Hayesville High School’s junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams presented a donation Tuesday to local resident Teresa Moss Lockaby, showing their support in her fight against breast cancer. The funds were raised during the teams’ recent Pink Out Night  game against Robbinsville, an annual event that promotes breast cancer awareness. Players, coaches and fans wore pink and contributed through donations and other activities during the ma

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On October 25, 2025, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for equipment violations and failure to maintain lane in the Murphy area of Cherokee County, North Carolina. During the course of the stop, the driver, identified as Darren Ray Carter, denied consent for a search of the vehicle. A K-9 unit responded to the traffic stop and K-9 “Epic,” was dep

HIAWASSEE, Ga. — Towns County residents are left with immediate uncertainty over local law enforcement and longer-term questions about oversight and public trust after Sheriff Kenneth “Ken” Henderson was suspended by the governor, indicted by a grand jury and booked on multiple charges stemming from a December 2024 confrontation at a shooting scene. Gov. Brian Kemp ordered a 60-day suspension of Henderson earlier this month while state authorities investigated the episode. Th

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.  — The Union County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $55,917 High Visibility Enforcement grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to support efforts aimed at reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities on Georgia roads. The funding, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will be used for equipment purchases and to offset the cost of salaries for deputies assigned to the program. The grant will run through September 2026. Ac

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Two Hayesville High School students are turning lessons from the classroom into real-world compassion. After learning about global refugee crises in their Global Studies class, juniors Callie Long and Layla Parker decided to take action. Using money from their part-time jobs, the students sent a supply box to a child-only refugee center to help with winter needs. The pair has committed to sending a new box each month for the rest of the school year, contin

Pictured are Towns County Sheriff Ken Henderson, left, and Deputy Austin Bradburn. Both men were indicted by a Grand Jury on Monday, Oct. 27 in separate cases. HIAWASSEE, Ga. — The Towns County Sheriff’s Office was rocked Monday as a grand jury indicted suspended Sheriff Ken Henderson on seven criminal counts, including multiple charges of violating his oath of office and false imprisonment. The charges stem from a December 2024 incident in which Henderson placed Hiawassee P

HIAWASSEE, Ga.  — The Towns County Recreation Department has been named the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) District 7 Agency of the Year, recognizing the department’s outstanding service and community impact. The award was presented last week at the GRPA District 7 Banquet, where Recreation Director Stuart Nichols, Assistant Director Will Banister, and Athletic Coordinator Chris Cannon accepted the honor from District 7 Chairman Kirk Franz. “This award is com

ANDREWS, N.C. — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office will host a “Coffee with a Cop” event on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Morning Fog Coffee & Eats, located at 1219 Main St. in Andrews. The informal gathering invites community members to join their neighbors and local law enforcement officers for coffee and conversation. There is no set agenda or speeches — the event offers residents an opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers who

CLAY COUNTY, N.C. — With winter’s return and fireplaces being used more frequently, the Clay County Health Department is reminding residents to inspect and maintain their chimneys to prevent heating-related fires linked to poorly maintained fireplaces. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately three of every ten house fires caused by home heating equipment stem from dirty chimneys and poorly maintained fireplaces. EPA+1  The primary culprit

HIAWASSEE, Ga. — Volunteers are encouraged to take part in MountainTrue’s 15th annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup on Saturday, Nov. 1. The event will begin at 9 a.m. at the Towns County Swim Beach Pavilion, across from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. Participants will receive cleanup assignments, bags, gloves, and safety information before heading out to their designated shoreline areas. Coffee and grab-and-go breakfast snacks will be provided, and the first 30 voluntee

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office held its latest Scam and Fraud Awareness Class on Oct. 22, continuing its efforts to educate residents about common fraud schemes targeting the community. The event, supported by local businesses and community partners, aimed to help residents recognize and avoid scams affecting the region. During the class, United Community Bank presented Sheriff Shawn Dyer and Investigator Robert Calamari with the bank’s U-ROCK Award in