News

Fannin County’s new swimming pool and splash pad are scheduled to open Monday, May 27.

Fannin County’s new swimming pool and splash pad are scheduled to open Monday, May 27.

New pool opens May 27

The new swimming pool and splash pad at the Fannin County Recreation Complex on Gray Street in Blue Ridge are set to open May 27.
Fannin County School System Teacher of the Year is Christy Brogden, center, of West Fannin Elementary School. She is shown with her Principal Alison Danner, left, and Fannin County Superintendent Shannon Dillard.

Fannin County School System Teacher of the Year is Christy Brogden, center, of West Fannin Elementary School. She is shown with her Principal Alison Danner, left, and Fannin County Superintendent Shannon Dillard.

Christy Brogden named Fannin’s Teacher of the Year

Christy Brogden was named the Fannin County School System’s Teacher of the Year when the county’s top educators were honored Tuesday, May 14. The school system held its annual banquet to celebrate Teachers of the Year from each of the county’s five schools.
Blue Ridge City Council unanimous vote, Wright fired.

Blue Ridge City Council unanimous vote, Wright fired.

McCaysville police officer fired, cited following crash

McCaysville City Council members huddled behind closed doors for most of their regular meeting Tuesday night before firing police officer Jordan Thomas Wright. The action came May 14 following Wright’s crash of his patrol vehicle the previous night.
Haights file lawsuits against city.

Haights file lawsuits against city.

Haights sue council, city

Rhonda and David Haight made good on their threat to sue Angela “Angie” Arp, Jack Taylor, Bill Bivins and the City of Blue Ridge last week when they filed individual civil lawsuits against the three city council members.
Trace Lee Mason

Trace Lee Mason

Mason charged with kidnapping, attempted murder in Polk County

Trace Lee Mason, 38, of 143 Pine Ridge Road, Farner, was held without bond in the Polk County Jail last week on felony charges of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping and Attempted Second Degree Murder, according to Polk County records. The incidents are alleged to have occurred Monday, May 13.
Sheriff Dane  Kirby talked about the new law last week.

Sheriff Dane Kirby talked about the new law last week.

Kirby explains landowners quick option to remove unwanted guests

By Glenn Harbison glenn@thenewsobserver.com Fannin County landowners who find unwanted guests camping on their property now have a quick and easy way to have them removed. Sheriff Dane Kirby explained the new law that is already in effect under House Bill 1017.
Pictures with family and friends are common at the conclusion of all graduation ceremonies and Friday night at Copper Basin High School was no exception.

Pictures with family and friends are common at the conclusion of all graduation ceremonies and Friday night at Copper Basin High School was no exception.

Copper Basin celebrates Class of 2024

Family, friends and school officials packed the Copper Basin High School gymnasium Friday night, May 17, to watch the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024.
Brian Pritchard was voted out of his Georgia GOP office.

Brian Pritchard was voted out of his Georgia GOP office.

Integrity cited as state GOP ousts Pritchard

By Andy Ashurst The Times Courier/Ellijay In a 146-24 vote the Georgia Republican Party voted to remove First Vice Chairman Brian K. Pritchard from office. “Todays vote demonstrates how serious we take election integrity,” said Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon in a statement.
 Fannin County School System bus drivers were very excited to show off their skills and compete in the Bus Rod-eo event. In the front are, from left, Denise M. Messer, Jimmy Adams, Pepperr McConnell, Greg O’Neal, Rodney Ensley, Tom Cook, and in the door Tommy Jourdan. Inside the bus are, from left, Transportation Director Chris Drury, Charlotte Graham, Destiny Cheatham, Brandon Tipton, Julie Johnson, Melissa Beaver, Robin Searcy, Superintendent Shannon Dillard, Lisa Cheatham, and Billy Standridge.

Fannin County School System bus drivers were very excited to show off their skills and compete in the Bus Rod-eo event. In the front are, from left, Denise M. Messer, Jimmy Adams, Pepperr McConnell, Greg O’Neal, Rodney Ensley, Tom Cook, and in the door Tommy Jourdan. Inside the bus are, from left, Transportation Director Chris Drury, Charlotte Graham, Destiny Cheatham, Brandon Tipton, Julie Johnson, Melissa Beaver, Robin Searcy, Superintendent Shannon Dillard, Lisa Cheatham, and Billy Standridge.

Junior Dillinger comes out on top in annual school system bus rod-eo

Fannin County School System (FCSS) bus drivers showed off their skills at the annual FCSS Bus Rod-eo. Before the competition started, drivers were driven through the obstacle course filled with different challenges they must complete.
Students from Fannin County Middle School, from left, Keagan Massey, Lauren Waters, and Mackenzie Duvall passed out Milkweed plants to all who showed up for the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB event. The free milkweed day was part of the Chamber’s Lights Off, Fireflies On project to protect the natural beauty of summer evenings in Fannin County when fireflies light up the night sky. Milkweed protects fireflies from predators.

Students from Fannin County Middle School, from left, Keagan Massey, Lauren Waters, and Mackenzie Duvall passed out Milkweed plants to all who showed up for the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB event. The free milkweed day was part of the Chamber’s Lights Off, Fireflies On project to protect the natural beauty of summer evenings in Fannin County when fireflies light up the night sky. Milkweed protects fireflies from predators.

Free milkweed aimed at helping protect fireflies

The night sky will sparkle with fireflies in Fannin County this summer. On May 10, the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce hosted Lights Off, Fireflies On, Milkweed Day.