SUCHES – The brand-new bridge where Canada Creek Road West crosses over the north-flowing Toccoa River received its very own ribbon-cutting ceremony last week courtesy of the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce. Inspectors with the Georgia Department of Transportation previously identified the bridge among others as needing significant repairs, and because it was a simpler…
Shawn Jarrard
Early voting ends Friday; elections set for May 19
Three weeks of in-person early voting will conclude this Friday, May 15, making this the last week of early voting for Union County and the State of Georgia ahead of the General Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election set for next Tuesday, May 19. All in-person early voting is taking place from 9 a.m. to…
Shoe Factory traffic light, mountain joyriders discussed
The Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Legislative Wrap-Up with District 51 State Sen. Steve Gooch and District 8 State Rep. Stan Gunter featured news pertinent to both Union County specifically and to the state at large on Wednesday, April 22. Always well attended, the breakfast meeting inside the Community Center welcomed a variety of…
In-person early voting continues thru Friday, May 15
Union County and the State of Georgia are more than a week into in-person early voting for the General Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election set for May 19. In-person early voting continues weekdays between now and Friday, May 15. Early voting also includes one more weekend voting opportunity this Saturday, May 9. The lines…
Warren gets life sentence in sexual assault guilty plea
Michael Kelly Ray Warren will serve every bit of 25 years in prison as part of the life sentence he received after pleading guilty to a crime that violated the trust of his family. When he finally gets out, he will spend the rest of his days on probation, to include sex offender registration. Warren,…
Superintendent Hill honored to receive President’s Award
When it comes to the students of Union County Schools, Superintendent Dr. John Hill wears his heart on his sleeve – something the Georgia School Superintendents Association has acknowledged by selecting him for the organization’s prestigious President’s Award in 2026. Hill humbly accepted the recognition at a statewide conference in Savannah in mid-April, but he…
Pound of meth seized in trafficking ‘disruption’
Thanks to the ongoing drug enforcement efforts at the Union County Sheriff’s Office, local deputies assisted in apprehending an out-of-town drug supplier this month, marking a “substantial disruption to an active drug trafficking network operating in the region.” “On April 17, 2026, a coordinated effort by FBI Safe Streets Task Force officers from Union and…
In-person early voting continues thru May 15
In-person early voting began on Monday for the General Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election set for May 19. There are three weeks of in-person early voting running weekdays between now and Friday, May 15. Early voting also includes two weekend voting opportunities: Saturday, May 2, and Saturday, May 9. The lines are usually shorter…
Henderson case could be dismissed, re-indicted
HIAWASSEE – The State of Georgia’s criminal case against Towns County Sheriff Ken Henderson was up in the air at press time, with the fate of the sheriff’s indictment from Oct. 27, 2025, awaiting determination by Georgia Superior Court Senior Judge Randy Rich. Both the defense and the prosecution want that indictment thrown out for…
UCSO, GSP crack down on mountain joyriding
Union County Sheriff Shawn Dyer has gotten a much-needed boost to his ongoing efforts to stop dangerous drivers on the mountains, teaming up with Georgia State Patrol for a recent weekend of dedicated traffic enforcement that netted 238 motorist contacts, plus multiple arrests. Since coming into office, the sheriff has meaningfully increased traffic enforcement, particularly…