River City Bank of Blairsville is lacing up for its annual back-to-school shoe event, which is when the bank partners with Union County Family Connection to provide free new shoes to Union County children in the days before classes begin each August. But because the need is so great, River City once again needs the…
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…
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…
Clarification:
In the article about the GOP School Board Candidate Forum from the April 22 edition of the newspaper, the reporting created a misunderstanding among some readers regarding District 2 School Board Candidate John Davis’ intentions to change school culture if elected. The article reported that Davis said he would work to change the culture of…
Frechette, Marevka earn royal titles at senior prom
Union County High School students had a blast at prom Saturday night, taking place at The Barn in Young Harris. Whether that meant dancing the evening away or just hanging out by the firepit, there was something there for all. Everyone enjoyed DJ Thiago’s tunes inside the barn itself, with plenty starting to dance early…
Bible class, new principal, parents headline meeting
Parents and students alike can soon look forward to the establishment of the Christian Learning Center in Union County, which has met with much success at Towns County Schools and is under development in other neighboring counties. “A Christian Leadership Center operates an approved Released-Time Bible Education program as an elective class in the county…
School Board candidate forum turns contentious
The Union County GOP hosted a School Board Candidate Forum on Tuesday, April 14, which lasted about two hours and turned contentious at times inside the Haralson Memorial Civic Center. Three of the four Republican candidates for the only contested seat on the Union County Board of Education attended: Incumbent Tony Hunter, Naveela Philbeck and…
In-person early voting ready to go on Monday
In-person early voting begins next week for the General Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election set for May 19. There will be three weeks of in-person early voting running weekdays between Monday, April 27, and Friday, May 15. Early voting will also include two weekend voting opportunities: Saturday, May 2, and Saturday, May 9. The…