BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The U.S. Senate Runoff experienced lower voter turnout than the General Election, but traditionally runoffs experience lower numbers. In November, 15,547 Union County residents voted and 14,206 in the January runoff – approximately 19,628 people are registered to vote in Union County. 72.38 percent of Union County voters turned out on January […]
Read More »UCS issues temporary mask mandate, suspends games for one week
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Given the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, Union County Board of Education moved to heighten virus precautions in the classroom with a mask mandate. Students returned to class today, January 5, from winter break. Previously, the school encouraged masks but didn’t require face coverings for students. Now all students and teachers must […]
Read More »What’s going on with the Fannin’s Post One seat?
BLUE RIDGE, Ga: With Post One-elect Johnny Scearce continuing to recover from COVID-19-related illnesses, Fannin County Commissioners discussed the board’s options until he assumes responsibilities. At this time, there’s not a set timeline for Scearce to take his oath of office and begin his commission term. However, the law is ambiguous about when the oath […]
Read More »Incompetence and mischief: Georgia State Senator calls out Fulton and Raffensperger
ELLIJAY, Ga – Senator Brandon Beach (R – Alpharetta) didn’t mince words when addressing the incompetence of Fulton County and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Beach was one of four Georgia state senators who called for a special session concerning election integrity earlier in the year. The others were Sen. Greg Dolezal (R – Cumming), […]
Read More »More Georgians to Become Eligible to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Atlanta – Governor Brian Kemp and Commissioner Kathleen Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., announced plans to add adults aged 65 and older, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders to the current group of individuals eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Healthcare workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities are already in this highest priority group. […]
Read More »Union County 2021 operating budget adopted
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The 2021 operating budget for Union County was officially set in a called meeting on December 28, 2020. The total budget for $21,748,780 which was an 11.7 increase from 2020. In a public hearing, Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris cited several reasons for the rising budget including state cuts, property reevaluation, potential gun […]
Read More »How to safely celebrate New Year’s Eve 2021
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Everyone’s ready to close the chapter on 2020 and celebrate ringing in 2021, but COVID-19 precautions still need to be taken. The CDC advises everyone to participate in New Year’s Eve celebrations with those who live in the same household or virtually. For those celebrating outside of the home, wear a mask, […]
Read More »Commissioner Bradshaw reviews 2021 operating budget
HIAWASSEE, Ga – Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw presented the 2021 operating budget for the county which features a $90,000 increase from last year. The 2020 budget was $11,174,990, and the total for 2021 is $11,265,590. The county’s currently in the midst of a spending freezing because of COVID-19, and Towns’ officials’ frugality will actually place […]
Read More »Paris presents 2021 budget, set to adopt Monday
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In a public hearing for the 2021 budget, Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris presented the $21,748,780 budget. It will be adopted on December 28 at 4:30 p.m. at the Union County Courthouse. The budget featured an 11.7 percent increase from 2020, which was $19,462,648. The reasons for the increases included three percent pay […]
Read More »Sons of the American Revolution honor first responders
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution paid homage to local firefighters, law enforcement, EMT, and EMS workers during the December Commission meeting. Sid Turner presented three awards. The first the law enforcement commendation went to Lt. Leon James who serves the Union County Sheriff’s Office and […]
Read More »Towns County Library celebrates Branch Manager Debbie Phillips
HIAWASSEE, Ga – Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw acknowledged Towns County Library Branch Manager Debbie Phillips’s service to the community during the December meeting. Phillips retired from the library after serving 30 years in the Mountain Regional Library System. During her time with the library, she served on statewide PINES committees, the Board of Trustees advisory […]
Read More »Christmas Eve Snow blankets Union County
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Beginning on Christmas Eve, the snow continued on-and-off throughout the night leaving a magical, still Christmas morning for north Georgia. Estimates are between one and two inches of snow in Union County. According to the National Weather Service, there’s a 20 percent chance of snow showers on Christmas Day after 2 p.m. […]
Read More »Nikki Haley and Kelly Loeffler campaign in Demorest
DEMOREST, Ga – Senator Kelly Loeffler (Ga-R) stumped with former UN ambassador Nikki Haley (R-SC) in Demorest, Ga ahead of the January 5 runoff. Senator Loeffler commented that Habersham represented the best of Georgia with a diverse range of industries. “They care about the freedoms that we’re fighting for every single day. They also care […]
Read More »First COVID-19 Vaccine for Healthcare Workers Delivered to Public Health in North Georgia
DALTON, Ga – The North Georgia Health District announced that Whitfield County Health Department received an initial shipment of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and began administrating the vaccine to healthcare workers from a variety of medical offices on Friday. This first shipment of Pfizer vaccine contained 1,950 doses and is being kept in an ultracold freezer […]
Read More »Fannin Commissioners approve 2021 budget
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – The three Fannin County Commissioners approved the 2021 operating budget after some discussion about the sheriff’s account. The total 2021 budget was $29,356,858 plus $87,675 for the sheriff’s office. The addition kept the sheriff’s account the same as it was in 2020. “A good flat budget. I’m pleased that everybody’s pitched […]
Read More »Safety Fire Commissioner deployed to Navajo Nation as part of the Nation Guard COVID-19 response
ATLANTA – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King issued the following statement today regarding his recent deployment to the Navajo Nation in his National Guard capacity in the ongoing fight against COVID-19: “In light of my recent deployment to the Navajo Nation as part of the Department of Defense’s response to COVID-19, I will be stepping […]
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