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….
New venture takes big step at Blairsville Airport
Appalachian Mountain Aviation LLC has achieved an important milestone toward bringing flight training, aircraft maintenance and restorations, and aircraft rentals to the Blairsville Municipal Airport, to serve as a one-stop shop that will be a boon to the local economy. In their first meeting of the year on Jan. 6, Blairsville City Council members unanimously approved a 30-year ground lease with the company, which plans to build a 100-by-100 hangar to…
Two Towns County deputies arrested in separate incidents
HIAWASSEE – The past 12 months have been rough for personnel at the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, but Interim Sheriff Anthony Coleman wants people to know that he is working hard to “rebuild” the agency. Since the January 2025 arrest of former deputy Austin Bradburn on charges that he fabricated elements of the December 2024 roadside incident in which he was shot…
City Council conducts first-of-year business
For its first meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 6, the Blairsville City Council conducted the organizational business of swearing in recently elected officials and naming liaisons to the city’s various departments and areas of interest. Usually, the council and mayor meet the second Tuesday of each month, but the city charter specifies that the first meeting…
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…
Veteran’s Response Team seeking veterans to assist
The Veteran’s Response Team of Northeast Georgia wants local veterans to know that they are not alone; if a veteran needs something, all they have to do is call 706-968-5139, Ext. 705. Veterans and their families in Union and Towns counties are served by Division II of the Veteran’s Response Team, which is managed by…
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…