When Robert “Bob” Kinnie entered the W.C. Nelson Terminal Building at the Blairsville Municipal Airport on May 21, he did not expect a crowd of people awaiting his arrival – all sporting the same yellow sunglasses he always wears, to boot. What the local pilot expected even less was to receive the prestigious Wright Brothers…
Farmers Market packs them in for season debut
Union County Sole Commissioner Harold Collins and Farmers Market Manager Dustin “The Rog” Rogers estimate that the opening weekend of the Union County Farmers Market on May 30 saw about 2,000 people come shop for a variety of homegrown produce and handmade crafts. There were plenty of greens to choose from such as kale and…
Woody Gap graduates five in ceremony on Saturday
SUCHES – Lilli-May Dempsey, Ryan Marsh, Elijah Miller, Steven Mossinger and Robert Waldroup took their final walk as Woody Gap School students on Saturday, May 23, closing one chapter and beginning another during commencement exercises inside the school gymnasium. The ceremony opened with a prayer from Dempsey, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by…
‘Server Farms’ ordinance, life flights, rec sports & more
In his regular monthly meeting on Thursday, May 21, Union County Sole Commissioner Harold Collins held a first reading of the revised ordinance regulating the establishment of cryptocurrency and data mining facilities. Union County has had a “very strict” ordinance in place since October of 2023, but Collins has been hearing concerns from the public…
Temporary three-way stop coming to 515 in Young Harris
YOUNG HARRIS – Effective Thursday, May 28, Georgia 515 is getting a temporary three-way stop where the new bypass intersects the highway next to Brasstown Creek Road, between the Dollar General and Victoria’s Antiques. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the temporary traffic pattern change will facilitate construction on the south side of the…
Sheriff’s Office helps victim of car scam recover $30,000
A Blairsville man has described Union County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Calamari as a “bulldog” after the dedicated local fraud investigator helped to recover $30,000 that was stolen from him in a car-trading scam. The victim, who asked to remain anonymous for the purposes of this news article, posted a car for sale last month on…
Sheriff Henderson reindicted on all counts
HIAWASSEE – A Towns County Grand Jury has handed up a second indictment against suspended Sheriff Ken Henderson after hearing evidence in the case. The result was read aloud by Superior Court Senior Judge James E. Cornwell inside the Towns County Courthouse on Tuesday, May 19. Known as a superseding indictment, the brand-new indictment completely…
Hunter victorious for BOE; several races head to runoff
The 2026 General Primary Elections and Nonpartisan Election concluded on Tuesday, May 19, and the winner of the only contested county-level race in Union County was Tony Hunter, the Incumbent for School Board District 2. Currently in his fourth term, Hunter came out on top in the Republican contest with 3,360 votes, earning 56.06% of…
Graduating seniors rack up $7 million in financial aid
In the runup to graduation last week, the Union County High School Class of 2026 was applauded for both their collective and individual accomplishments during Senior Honors Night on Monday, May 18, at the Fine Arts Center. Over the years, senior awards and scholarship recognitions have been consolidated into one night of celebration prior to…
Farmers Market opens for season on Saturday, May 30
Returning a week early this year, the Union County Farmers Market is set to open on Saturday, May 30. The early decision came about because several of the farmers had an excess of early produce last year, according to Commissioner Harold Collins. For the sake of avoiding food waste, they’ve been invited to sell their…