HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales proposed the dismissal of requiring the first and second readings of city ordinances to be spaced a month apart, listing the item as new business on the city council’s Jan. 28 work session agenda. Mayor Ordiales explained that the change would “speed things up” by allowing both the […]
Read More »House Rep. Matt Gurtler continues fight for concealed gun rights
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – District 8 House Representative Matt Gurtler returned to Atlanta last week to serve his second-term as a state legislator, continuing to push for House Bill 2, also known as Constitutional Carry, an edict which would make the Georgia Weapons License (GWL) optional for law-abiding Georgia residents. Gurtler believes that with the help […]
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Towns County Historical Society officers unexpectedly vacate posts
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County Historical Society President Sandra Green announced on Thursday, Jan. 10, that four officers, herself included, have resigned their positions, effective immediately, and will not seek reelection on Monday, Jan. 14. In addition to Green, Treasurer Frances Shook and Membership Secretary Mary Ann Miller will no longer serve on the board. […]
Read More »National Security Consultant to speak on Islam, Jihad, Sharia Law
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – Chris Gaubatz – a national security consultant, speaker, and conservative political activist – is scheduled to address the Towns-Union County Tea Party on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. Gaubatz trains law enforcement on strategies and modus operandi of jihadists in order to locate and prosecute the networks, testifying before the U.S. […]
Read More »Writer’s Column: In Memory of Soup Beans
There are few winter rituals that I enjoy more on a cold, dreary day than the tranquil process of preparing a savory batch of soup beans. Not to be confused with bean soup, soup beans are a time-treasured staple in the history of Appalachian cuisine, capable of transporting my heart to a simpler era when […]
Read More »Highway Safety Grant awarded to Towns County High School
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County High School was awarded a grant by the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) in the amount of $6,181 for the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club. Towns County Schools received the GOHS grant for the fourth consecutive year. In 2016, Towns County was awarded a grant in excess […]
Read More »Ralph Nichols Band entertains Towns County Historical Society
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Ralph Nichols and the Hiawassee Opry Band entertained the Towns County Historical Society on Monday, Dec. 10, with a mixture of gospel and classic Christmas songs, delighting a crowd of 72 attendees. Nichols formed his band nearly two decades ago, and continues to perform at reunions, revivals, and homecoming celebrations on a […]
Read More »Hiawassee man charged with sexual exploitation of children
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – On Wednesday, Nov. 28, Towns County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies assisted agents from Homeland Security Investigations with the execution of a search warrant at a residence located within Bald Mountain Park. Agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and State Probation Officers assisted with the warrant. During the course of executing the […]
Read More »CodeRed Alert Activated: Winter Storm Warning
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County’s CodeRED alert system was activated shortly before noon on Saturday, Dec. 8, warning of approaching winter weather. The winter storm warning will take effect at 10 p.m. tonight and run through 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10. The expected forecast for Towns County, according to the National Weather Service, is as […]
Read More »Man sought for assault on law enforcement faces drug charges
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Law enforcement officers from the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and Hiawassee Police Departmet arrested a suspect at a residence on Sampson Road in Young Harris on Sunday, Nov. 25, on outstanding warrants stemming from Towns, Union, and Gordon Counties. Towns County Sheriff’s Office investigators seized metamphetamine with […]
Read More »Reports of Black Bear Sightings as Winter Approaches
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Most longtime residents are aware that the Appalachian mountains are home to abundant wildlife, including bears, but newcomers and visitors may not know what measures to take should an encounter with one occur. In recent weeks, there have been reports of several black bear sightings in the area. A Ramey Mountain homeowner […]
Read More »Enotah CASA to host Dancing with the North Georgia Stars
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Enotah Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Chairman Liz Ruf joined the Mountain Movers and Shakers on Friday, Oct. 26, to promote the annual Dancing with the North Georgia Stars fundraising event, scheduled for the evening of Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Union County Schools Performing Arts Center in Blairsville. The event is sponsored […]
Read More »Strong voter turnout continues at local polls
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Early voting in the Nov. 6 General election has reached its second week, and with two weeks left until Election Day, the Towns County Board of Elections Office has witnessed a surge in voter participation. As of Tuesday afternoon, 0ver 1900 voters had cast their ballots at the Hiawassee precinct, and the […]
Read More »Local Lore: The Legend of the Moon-Eyed People
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Folklore abounds in the mountains of Southern Appalachia, a land where magic and mystery continues to thrive through tales of antiquity, passed along to modern-day generations. One such tale is that of the Moon-Eyed People. According to legend, the Moon-Eyed People were a subterranean race of small inhabitants of a wooded area, […]
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