News

Ava Faries listens closely as Amanda Foody talks about her passion for writing with students at Fannin County Middle School (FCMS) last week. Foody is a New York Times best selling author who was invited to the school by Scott Moat, the media specialist at FCMS.

Ava Faries listens closely as Amanda Foody talks about her passion for writing with students at Fannin County Middle School (FCMS) last week. Foody is a New York Times best selling author who was invited to the school by Scott Moat, the media specialist at FCMS.

Students hear best selling author

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Amanda Foody brought her passion for writing to Fannin County Middle School last week to share that passion with students. The New York Times best selling author made several presentations throughout Thursday, February 8.
Raymond Vandiver Akins was originally arrested in Fannin County November 8, 2023, on several charges.

Raymond Vandiver Akins was originally arrested in Fannin County November 8, 2023, on several charges.

Akins indicted, picked up by feds

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Raymond Vandiver Akins is now in  U.S. government custody after his indictment by a grand jury in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Copper Basin High School received a “B” in recent rankings presented by the state Board of Education, missing an “A” by only one tenth of a point.

Copper Basin High School received a “B” in recent rankings presented by the state Board of Education, missing an “A” by only one tenth of a point.

Copper Basin’s “B” shines among schools

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Copper Basin High School received a “B” when letter grades for all Tennessee schools were presented to the state Board of Education, and missed an “A” rating by only one tenth of a point.
Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson wants to fund his office based on collections.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson wants to fund his office based on collections.

Chastain warns of digital currency; Frank Wood announces candidacy

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Georgia Labor Commissioner  Bruce Thompson told the crowd at the Fannin County Republican Party Valentine’s Dinner, “A mission is an assignment.” He then said the same is true of a public servant’s responsibility to the people who elected him.
Fannin County Middle School (FCMS) student Lennox Patterson loads a bag filled with items to help Fannin County’s homeless population into the back of a pickup truck. FCMS students collected over 4,000 items in a school wide competition.

Fannin County Middle School (FCMS) student Lennox Patterson loads a bag filled with items to help Fannin County’s homeless population into the back of a pickup truck. FCMS students collected over 4,000 items in a school wide competition.

FCMS competition collects over 4,000 items for homeless

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
What started with a class assignment ended with over 4,000 donations and a pizza party donated to Fannin County’s homeless population. Alisha Stiles assigned her eighth grade Graphic Design class at Fannin County Middle School to create a business and build a functioning website for that business.
This photo shows Zylas “Zee” Hamilton, circled, identified as being outside the U.S. Capitol January 6, 2021. It appears in the Statement of Facts attached to his federal Criminal Complaint in conjunction with the riot that day.

This photo shows Zylas “Zee” Hamilton, circled, identified as being outside the U.S. Capitol January 6, 2021. It appears in the Statement of Facts attached to his federal Criminal Complaint in conjunction with the riot that day.

Blue Ridge man arrested in riot at U.S. Capitol

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Zylas Hamilton, 31, of Blue Ridge was released the same day after being arrested on charges related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Two people lost their lives when this Douglas Street home in Ducktown was destroyed by fire January 23. The names of the victims have not been released by investigators.

Two people lost their lives when this Douglas Street home in Ducktown was destroyed by fire January 23. The names of the victims have not been released by investigators.

Two die in Ducktown house fire

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Two Ducktown residents lost their lives early Tuesday morning, January 23, when their Douglas Street home was destroyed by fire. The victims have not been officially identified by Tennessee investigators.
Ross Tarver and Kyle Cooper stayed busy loading water donated by Crystal Geyser Spring Water into residents’ vehicles last week. Tarver and Crystal Geyser worked together to provide free water after the Copperhill system went dry due to pipes burst by the frigid cold weather.

Ross Tarver and Kyle Cooper stayed busy loading water donated by Crystal Geyser Spring Water into residents’ vehicles last week. Tarver and Crystal Geyser worked together to provide free water after the Copperhill system went dry due to pipes burst by the frigid cold weather.

Tarver, Crystal Geyser give water

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
“This is what it’s all about, helping people,” Ross Tarver said as he and a group of volunteers loaded water into the vehicles of residents Tuesday afternoon, January 23.
Tim Andrews, left, with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, wants the Polk County Commission Board to create a railroad authority. Commissioners are skeptical, concerned about what might be hauled into Copperhill. Listening to Andrews’ proposal are, seated, starting second from left, commissioners Kelley Morgan, Samantha Trantham and Greg Brooks.

Tim Andrews, left, with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, wants the Polk County Commission Board to create a railroad authority. Commissioners are skeptical, concerned about what might be hauled into Copperhill. Listening to Andrews’ proposal are, seated, starting second from left, commissioners Kelley Morgan, Samantha Trantham and Greg Brooks.

Biosolids worry seen in Polk rail authority request

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Polk County commissioners want to be sure if they agree to create a railroad authority they are not opening the door for biosolids or other hazardous material to be shipped into Copperhill.
This is the scene drivers turning onto Bridge Street from Ocoee Street in Copperhill will see for the next several weeks as the steel bridge spanning the Toccoa River gets a new deck and sidewalks.

This is the scene drivers turning onto Bridge Street from Ocoee Street in Copperhill will see for the next several weeks as the steel bridge spanning the Toccoa River gets a new deck and sidewalks.

Steel bridge deck being replaced 20 feet at a time

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
The steel bridge spanning the Toccoa River in  McCaysville was closed last week as work started to replace its decking and sidewalks. Neither vehicles nor pedestrians will be allowed to cross the bridge until work is finished.