Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Press Release On November 20, 2025, a jury trial concluded in the largest drug case involving methamphetamine in Cherokee County history. In July of 2022 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence on Daylily Dr. in Marble Nc. This search warrant yielded approx. 38 pounds of methamphetamine and a conversion laboratory used for making methamphetamine. Lars Prentice Johnson, age 53 of the Peachtree Community,

Staff Report Union County Schools has announced that it has been awarded the Computer Science Teacher Equipment and Community Grant , with official approval confirmed at the November 2025 State Board of Education meeting. The recognition marks another major step forward for the district’s rapidly expanding computer science programs. The grant will be used to strengthen student opportunities in hands-on physical computing and robotics—areas that continue to grow in popularity

By: Travis Dockery The Mountain Buzz A recent social media post stirred controversy over the upcoming Clay County Christmas Parade and related activities around the Beal Center and downtown square. A post on a Hayesville community Facebook page warned residents: “You are welcome to donate to the CCCRA who is in charge of the old courthouse, gazebo, bike trails etc... but no teddy bears at the parade, no prayer on the square, no Christmas Caroling.” The post quickly ignited a

Staff Report Seven school systems and four individual schools across Western North Carolina are set to benefit from a major investment in STEAM education thanks to a new grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. The “Bridging the Gap with STEM-E²” grant will expand access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning for students from elementary through high school. The funding supports mobile science unit field trips, classroom entrepreneurship pr

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On November 15, 2025, agents with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division successfully concluded a targeted drug-trafficking investigation in Cherokee County, NC. During the operation, agents developed information indicating that Jared Dickerson and Chelsea Taylor, both of Murphy, were routinely traveling to Georgia to acquire significant quantities of illegal drugs for resale in Cherokee County. Working in close

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release On November 14, 2025, members of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Murphy Police Department, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol were conducting a traffic checking station at the intersection of E US-64 and Harshaw Connector when a driver attempted to evade law enforcement. As the vehicle approached the checkpoint, the driver executed an aggressive U-turn and fled at a high rate of speed. A Trooper and Deputy initiate

Clay County Sheriff's Office Press Release On 11/12/25 around 2:00 PM a be on the lookout notice (BOLO) from Cherokee County was dispatched out for a white Cadillac Escalade traveling toward Clay County. Hannah Patrice Allen, 31 years of age from Hayesville, was believed to be traveling within the Cadillac with a 6-week-old child that she had taken without authorization. Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard and Officer JJ Wooten located and stopped this Cadillac at 3879 US Hwy 64 we

Staff Report Mountain Buzz News Eighth graders at Union County Middle School experienced real-world forensics firsthand on Monday, November 17, when deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Union County Schools Police Department transformed the school gymnasium into an interactive crime-scene training area. At the invitation of the 8th-grade class, law enforcement set up four stations that guided students through the complete process of investigat

Staff Report Morning Buzz The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to stay alert after a recent surge in phone, text and email scams in which callers impersonate law enforcement and demand money under the threat of arrest. Officials say several Clay County residents have already lost thousands of dollars after scammers convinced them they faced immediate arrest unless they sent money through wire transfers, gift cards or other untraceable methods. In many cases, t

By Staff Report Mountain Buzz Residents looking for unique holiday gifts while supporting local history and artisans won't want to miss the upcoming "Shop Local" event at the Old Jail Museum. Hosted on Friday, November 28, and Saturday, November 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the fair will feature handmade crafts donated by vendors from The Festival on The Square. All items will be offered at reasonable prices, making it easy to find the perfect gift. Proceeds from the sale wil

By: Staff Report Mountain Buzz Andrews High School is celebrating a group of outstanding students who recently received recognition from the Pre-ACT for their exceptional academic achievements. The Pre-ACT, a preparatory exam that helps students gauge college readiness, highlights top performers in several achievement categories. Andrews High School proudly announced the following students who earned honors for their impressive results: Early Scholars (Top 35% of High-Scoring

By: Staff Report Mountain Buzz As the crisp mountain air of Union County turns festive with the first hints of snow, the community is gearing up for a heartwarming kickoff to the holiday season. Mark your calendars for December 6, when the Union County Community Center transforms into a winter wonderland for the annual Holly Jolly Christmas & Breakfast with Santa. This free, family-friendly extravaganza, hosted by the Blairsville Union County Chamber of Commerce and United Co

Photo from the John C. Campbell Facebook page. The John C. Campbell Folk School held its Forging for the Future Live Auction  on Saturday, November 8, bringing together artists, supporters, and craft enthusiasts for a night celebrating community and creativity. The event, held in the Keith House Community Room, featured one-of-a-kind works from the Folk School’s Centennial Artists Collection. Attendees had the opportunity to bid on a variety of handcrafted pieces, with procee

The Union County Fire Department (UCFD) recently received a generous donation of 48 smoke alarms from City Plumbing and Electric Supply Company. The donation was made by Chris Britton, the local Branch Manager, and Todd Alexander, the company’s Purchasing Manager, as part of the department’s ongoing Smoke Alarm Program. Through this program, UCFD offers free smoke alarm installations to homeowners throughout the county. The program is designed to ensure that every household i

By: Staff Report Mountain Buzz After two decades of vacancy, the long-abandoned building at 12 Herbert Street will soon be demolished and rebuilt as a boutique hotel and retail hub, the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA) announced in a letter to the editor published today. The nonprofit purchased the property with the original intent of renovating the 1940s-era structure to fit its mission of spurring economic growth in downtown Hayesville. However, ex

Press Release During the month of October through the first weeks of November, a stint of thefts occurred in numerous parts of the county. This incident included a stolen ATV, Trailer, Lawnmowers, and then a work Truck that included numerous tools, drilling locators and other tools which were offloaded to be sold. But during the first week of November, it came to an end. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) through extensive investigations were able to locate the off

By: Staff Report The Mountain Buzz According to a report from WJRB Radio , the Blairsville man severely beaten in an attack last week is showing signs of recovery. Devon Davenport , who was airlifted to a Gainesville hospital after the incident, is now reportedly off life support and able to follow commands. Davenport’s sister, Dawn Marie Davenport-Davis , shared an update on social media saying her brother faces a long road to recovery. She wrote that he will need “ at minim

Press Release On 11/07/25 at 4:06 PM, Clay County Investigator Brandon Coker responded to Turkey Cove Subdivision in response to Destiny Paige Swenson, 35 years of age from Hayesville, believed to be trespassing. Officers had responded to this location on prior occasions concerning other individuals seen trespassing. Once at the scene, Investigator Coker found Swenson present standing on a pile of debris with rocks in her hand. As Swenson began walking toward Investigator Co

Photo via the Union County High School Facebook page. By: Staff Report The Mountain Buzz Union County High School is celebrating a major boost for its students and workforce development programs thanks to a generous $30,000 donation from River City Bank . The contribution was made to the Union County College & Career Academy  through the Georgia PEACH Education Tax Credit initiative , a program that allows individuals and businesses to direct a portion of their state tax doll

By: Staff Reports Mountain Buzz Firefighters from Union County’s Stations 4 (Ivylog), 5 (Suches), and 13 (Hidden Harbor) took part in a specialized training on lithium-ion battery fires in Cleveland, Georgia, on Friday, November 7. The class, hosted by White County Fire Services, Habersham EMC, and Command and Control, LLC, was led by Command and Control Founder Webster Marshall, IV. The training brought together around 100 firefighters from across North Georgia for a day of