Shooter suspect in custody, charged with aggravated assault

News
shooter

HIAWASSEE, Ga – On Tuesday, January 26, suspect Charles Jason Matheson, 41 of Young Harris, Ga allegedly shot his estranged wife at her place of employment, Chatuge Outpatient Rehabilitation Client in Hiawassee on River Street, around 2:50 p.m.

The victim was shot multiple times by Matheson and was transported to a north Georgia area hospital for treatment. According to Hiawassee Police Department, as of January 27, she is currently recovering after surgery.

Matheson fled the scene of the shooting and traveled to the Matheson Cove Road area in Clay County, North Carolina. Clay County Sheriff’s deputies blocked off Matheson Cove Road and asked residents of Matheson Cove Community to remain indoors once they located the suspect. Matheson was taken into custody around 8:30 p.m. on January 26. According to Sheriff Bobby Deese, the suspect’s car was found outside the residence.  He also relayed that Matheson turned himself in without incident. Clay County is holding Matheson until he can be extradited to Georgia.

Law enforcement arrested Matheson on aggravated assault charges. Hiawassee PD confirmed this will not be the only charge considered by the grand jury.

“District Attorney Jeff Langley responded to the scene yesterday with his staff, and will have the opportunity to bring all relevant charges for indictment,” said Hiawassee PD.

The GBI is also investigating the case in coordination with the Hiawassee PD.

Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson told FYN he supported the police in their initial response and worked alongside them in the city. Henderson said, “We arrived on the scene and informed the Chief up there that we were there to assist in any way that we could to help him with the situation.”

Fetch Your News will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

Hayesville Mayor Harry Baughn visits Hiawassee

News, Politics
Mayor Harry Baughn

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Hayesville Mayor Harry Baughn was invited to address the Mountain Movers and Shakers on the morning of Friday, July 13, and the city official cited several similarities between Hayesviile and Hiawassee. Situated north of Towns County, Hayesville is the county seat of Clay County, North Carolina.

Elected in 2013, Baughn is serving his second-term in office, and says he believes he will be able to accomplish his goals within the next three-and-a-half years, with no plans to run for a third-term seat.

“Our towns are comparable,” Baughn began, “We each have our own specialties, and our own wonderful places to be. Hiawassee has Music on the Square one night, and we have Music on the Square another night, so we do have some similar things.”

Baughn said one of his proudest accomplishments since election was the construction of public restrooms. “One of the first things I did after taking office – and it’s probably going to be my legacy – was building a set of public restrooms. That has been a big deal in downtown Hayesville. It is right next door to town hall.” Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales, who did not attend Friday’s forum, voiced ambition for public restrooms at a city council meeting months prior.

Baughn spoke of the importance of “walkability” in small towns, describing the placement of sidewalks in Hayesville, and the necessity of sufficient parking. Baughn said that an additional 24 parking spaces were recently added to downtown Hayesville, and the City of Hayesville partnered with business owners to replace worn awnings on storefronts to make the ambiance more appealing.

“Business development, the other important thing in small town survivalability,” Baughn stated, “We’ve been doing economic development during my administration, and we’ve gotten quite a number of new businesses downtown. If you’ve not been to the Valley River Brewery and Eatery, home of the famous wood-fired brick oven pizza, 15 craft brews – and right now is Wednesday, Wacky Wednesday – that you can get up to five toppings for $14.99, and I highly recommend the Mayor’s Pizza.” The crowd laughed in response.

Baughn continued, listing additional businesses that have opened in Hayesville within the past two years, such as a home décor shop, a children’s’ boutique, a computer repair store, a pet shop, and a tap house. The city official noted that Clay County Chamber of Commerce relocated to downtown Hayesville. Baughn included that a new Italian restaurant opened for business last week, and an additional restaurant and brewery plans to open its doors in August.

Baughn said that Hayesville hopes to gain an updated post office in the near future, which was a recent topic of discussion at a Hiawassee Town Hall meeting, designed for strategic city development planning. Baughn expressed hope of acquiring a recognizable “name brand hotel” in Clay County in order to to draw visitors to his town, claiming that many Hayesviile tourists choose to lodge in Hiawassee.

The mayor concluded by encouraging citizens to visit Clay County’s newly-renovated historic courthouse which towers above Hayesville’s town square. The majestic structure was originally constructed in 1888, and it functioned as the county courthouse until 2007. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 21.

“In addition to building the bathrooms, one of the things I’m proud of is wrestling (the courthouse) away from the county since they didn’t care about it,” Baughn revealed, “When they abandoned it, they needed to get rid of all of the wood in there because of the deterioration. When they took out the door frames and stuff, they weren’t really careful. I mean, they took sledgehammers, so basically there were round holes in the brick walls where there used to be doors. But at least they were willing. They deeded the courthouse and the square over to the town of Hayesville. It is leased to the CCCRA (Clay County Communities Revitalization Association) so that they could go after grant money.” Baughn explained the toiled effort involved in the restoration of the historic site, singing the praises of those who partook in process.

Hiawassee City Councilwoman Anne Mitchell, and Hiawssee Police Chief Paul Smith attended the Mountain Movers and Shakers meeting, held weekly at Sundance Grill.

 

Clay County set to dedicate historic courthouse

Community, News
Clay County NC Courthouse

HAYESVILLE, NC – Clay County will celebrate the grand opening and dedication of the historic Clay County Courthouse on Saturday, July 21, 2018, on Hayesville Town Square. The 11:00 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony will feature the Joint American Legion-Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Color Guard, local speakers, and singers. Following the presentation, the fully-renovated courthouse will be available for public viewing until 4:00 p.m.

Hayesville NC

The historic Clay County Courthouse on Hayesville Square

Constructed by local craftsman Captain J.S. Anderson in the Italianate Vernacular style, the Clay County Courthouse was built in 1888 at a cost of $7,800, and entered into service the following year. The courthouse was placed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings in 1975, and continued to operate as the Clay County Courthouse until 2007.

The lower-level of the courthouse will serve as a meeting space for smaller groups, while the upper-level courtroom has a 120-150 capacity for larger gatherings, such banquets, expos, classes, reunions, and weddings. An elevator was installed in the renovated courthouse, making it the sole commercial elevator in Hayesville city limits. A gift shop has been added to the ground-level of the building.

“The Historic Clay County Courthouse/Beal Center stands as a proud symbol of the spirit and determination of our regional forefathers,” the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association states, “The tasteful decor and displays recall the beauty and simpler way of life that shaped the local Clay County history. Join us to experience the quaint serenity and surroundings of a by-gone era as this beautiful venue once again becomes the center of the charming, revitalized downtown area of Hayesville and Clay County.”

For information on reserving space at the newly-renovated Clay County Courthose/Beal Center, contact Manager Kay Worden at 828-360-2388 or email inquiries to [email protected]

FetchYourNews (FYN) is a hyper local news outlet that covers Towns, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Dawson, and Murray counties, as well as Cherokee County in North Carolina – FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month, and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com, along with a 60,000 Facebook page reach.

If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of these counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

7th Annual Pet Celebration happening in Hayesville

Community, Upcoming Events
Pet Celebration Hayesville

HAYESVILLE, NC – Historic Hayesville is grooming for the 7th Annual Pet Celebration, Saturday, Sept. 22, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pet celebrationProceeds from the event will benefit participating Humane Societies and rescue groups.Pet Celebration Hayesville

A pet parade and contest, demonstrations, vendors, games, entertainment, music, food and refreshments, Adopt-a-Pet, reduced-cost pet vaccinations, silent autions, a live radio show, and a wiener dog race are among the festivities scheduled to take place on Hayesville Square.

Additional information can be acquired by dialing the Clay County Chamber of Commerce at 828-389-3704.

Updated: Local woman sought for attempted murder, considered armed and dangerous

News

HIAWASSEE, Ga. –

UPDATED: OFFICIAL TOWNS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE: (more…)

Clay Co. Lion’s Club Dancing Through The Decades Fundraiser

Community

The Clay County Lions Club is hosting a Fundraiser on Saturday evening, September 22, 2018, from 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm in the beautifully renovated Fellowship Hall of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church located at 1433 US Hwy 64, Hayesville, NC.

The Fundraiser will be an evening of great music from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s with a live DJ, a spectacular dance, a fabulous dinner by Amazing Grace Caterers, dozens of door prizes, and an available cash bar.

Tickets are $60 per person and are available at the Historic Hayesville Centennial Exhibit, Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Tiger’s Department Store and Bella Boutique in Downtown Hayesville.

Tickets are also available from any Clay County Lions Club Member, and at the Towns County Chamber of Commerce and Monte Alban Restaurant in Hiawassee. A portion of each ticket may be tax deductible.

100% of the net proceeds will go to further the Lions Club’s charitable activities in Clay County, including the providing of free eye exams and eyeglasses to residents in need; donations to local charities such as Clay County Community for Students, Christmas Care of Clay County, the VFW and Shop with a Hero all to help children in need in Clay County; support of Historic Hayesville, Inc.; and recent work to rehab the covered Lions Pavilion at the Clay County Recreation Park that is used by so many residents and visitors to Clay County. For further information, contact Neil Kaplan at (703) 725-9819

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