It is impossible for Hope House Director Pam Alexander to give a numerical estimate on how many homeless people are in Union County, but she does know that there are “many, many” of them. With winter in full swing and temperatures regularly plummeting, now is a dire time to be out of a stable housing situation. Nevertheless,…
Brittany Holbrooks
SWCD aiming to control region’s feral hog problem
Centuries ago, Spanish ships off the East Coast released pigs as a readily available food source. Later, European settlers adopted free-roaming farming methods, keeping swine for their hardy nature. Hogs thrived in the temperate forests of the New World, and inevitably, some escaped domesticity. Now, generations later, feral hogs have established a reputation across the state and nation as pests. For agriculturists, they pose…
Love earns STAR honors, chooses teacher Conger
Union County High School has officially revealed its STAR Student of 2026, and the honor goes to senior Savannah Love, who chose Dixie Conger as her STAR Teacher. The entire school learned the news with a celebratory announcement on Friday, Jan. 23. To officially recognize Love’s achievement, the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce attended as the local sponsor organization that coordinates with the…
Public education continues in latest UCSO Scam Class
Union County Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert “Bob” Calamari brought his Scam Awareness Class back to the Union County Public Library on Jan. 14, once again informing residents about the risks that lurk in the digital world, the mail and even innocuous-seeming packages on doorsteps. Also presenting that day were Casey McVay of Tri-State Tech Support and two officials with Georgia Adult Protective Services, Supervisor Emily Shook and Inv. Brandy Warren. Read…
BOE congratulates band, accepts FY25 audit report
The Union County Board of Education enjoyed a packed work session Jan. 15 while recognizing the award-winning performance of the Union County High School Pride of the Mountains Marching Band at the recent Peach State Marching Competition. On Oct. 25, the Pride of the Mountains earned the highest ratings in every category and took home First Place out of six other bands in Class 2A. Competing against…
UCGA1R celebrates with anniversary ribbon cutting
On Thursday, Jan. 15, the Union County Georgia 1st Responder Organization achieved a public relations milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce, held at Union County Fire Station No. 1. The first meeting of UCGA1R took place in January 2024, with incorporation in May 2024 and, after additional planning, a public unveiling in March 2025. Prior to last week, however, the organization had not yet gotten the opportunity to do a ribbon cutting….
Smoke alarm program free for county residents
Many people don’t think about their smoke alarms unless they burn something on the stove – or, in the worst-case scenario, an actual fire occurs. But as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and smoke alarms are a first line of defense against loss of life and property in the home. “The sooner that you have that detector go off and let you know that there’s a…
Seniors welcome 2026 with tradition, hope
On Wednesday, Dec. 31, Union County Senior Center members and staff rang in the new year in style with the inaugural “Noon Year’s Swingin’ Mocktail Party,” a new spin on the center’s annual “Possum Drop.” Of course, the beloved crochet marsupial still made an appearance this year, swinging in on the end of a fishing line to usher in 2026. Read more…
School Board celebrates student and staff success
Union County Board of Education members welcomed a packed Central Office for their last regular meeting before winter break thanks to multiple accolades being handed out to students, staff and even members of the community that Dec. 18 evening. To start things off, Athletic Director Mandy Hunter and Union County Middle School Principal Tammy Hughes introduced a portion of the Middle School Football Team and cheerleaders as they received the Mountain League…
Airport looking ahead to flight school opportunity
As part of the Blairsville Airport Advisory Board meeting at the W.C. Nelson Terminal Building last month, some exciting news was unveiled. Blairsville will soon receive several new additions when it comes to those looking to fly the friendly skies. Pat Micelli and Zach Wilson, owners of Appalachian Mountain Aviation, presented a business plan overview that included a flight school…