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Rick Boring, standing, makes a point to Polk County commissioners, from left, Samantha Trantham, Keith Barker, Kelley Morgan and Greg Brooks during the town hall meeting Saturday at Copper Basin Elementary School. Boring reminded the crowd how a previous group had attempted to use the former industrial and mining sites in Copperhill as a landfill.

Rick Boring, standing, makes a point to Polk County commissioners, from left, Samantha Trantham, Keith Barker, Kelley Morgan and Greg Brooks during the town hall meeting Saturday at Copper Basin Elementary School. Boring reminded the crowd how a previous group had attempted to use the former industrial and mining sites in Copperhill as a landfill.

Citizens say “no” to biosolids

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Owen Hensley is 84 years old. He has lived in East Polk County all his life except for four years of military service. Others were younger and some proudly claimed Polk County as home for only a few years.
Several Polk County officials were present for the opening reception of the annual TVA Ocoee Whitewater Rafting and Fly Fishing Event. Among them were, from left, Director of Schools James Jones, commissioners Samantha Trantham and Kelley Morgan, County Clerk Jackie Rogers and Road Superintendent Roy Thomason. County Executive Robby Hatcher was also present. The event was held at Tooney’s in McCaysville.

Several Polk County officials were present for the opening reception of the annual TVA Ocoee Whitewater Rafting and Fly Fishing Event. Among them were, from left, Director of Schools James Jones, commissioners Samantha Trantham and Kelley Morgan, County Clerk Jackie Rogers and Road Superintendent Roy Thomason. County Executive Robby Hatcher was also present. The event was held at Tooney’s in McCaysville.

TVA event stresses importance of recreation to area economy

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
An array of elected officials, community leaders, representatives of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Trout Unlimited, and whitewater rafting outfitters came together to celebrate the importance of recreation on the Toccoa and Ocoee rivers last week.
Members of several veterans organizations including the North Georgia Honor Guard joined with Boy Scouts from Troop 32 in Epworth for a ceremony and to place flags on the graves of veterans at Crestlawn Cemetery on Mobile Road. Shown at the conclusion of the event are, from left, front, Glenda Green, David Lewis, Nick Wimberley (also a veteran) Mathew Monroe, Clay Dillard, Stephen Young, Roy Green, Maddix Trantham, Raymond Green, and Tony Young, and, back Steve Strickland, Chris McKee, Richard Crosley, Bill

Members of several veterans organizations including the North Georgia Honor Guard joined with Boy Scouts from Troop 32 in Epworth for a ceremony and to place flags on the graves of veterans at Crestlawn Cemetery on Mobile Road. Shown at the conclusion of the event are, from left, front, Glenda Green, David Lewis, Nick Wimberley (also a veteran) Mathew Monroe, Clay Dillard, Stephen Young, Roy Green, Maddix Trantham, Raymond Green, and Tony Young, and, back Steve Strickland, Chris McKee, Richard Crosley, Bill

Flags honor veterans at Crestlawn

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
“We honor their service, we remember their loss,” Bill Stodghill told veterans and Boy Scouts gathered Friday, May 26, at Crestlawn Cemetery on Mobile Road. The groups came together to place flags on the graves of veterans in preparation for Memorial Day.
Storytime at the Fannin County Public Library last Wednesday held the attention of this group of youngsters. Storytime is a weekly, Wednesday event at 11 a.m. and again at 4 p.m.

Storytime at the Fannin County Public Library last Wednesday held the attention of this group of youngsters. Storytime is a weekly, Wednesday event at 11 a.m. and again at 4 p.m.

Fannin library kicks off full slate of events for summer

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
The end of school and start of summer traditionally bring a flurry of activities to the Fannin County Public Library, and this year is no exception. The Summer Reading Program kicked off Monday, June 5, and will continue through Saturday, July 15, when the Finale Party will be held.
Members of the North Georgia Honor Guard performed a rifle salute during the Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.

Members of the North Georgia Honor Guard performed a rifle salute during the Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.

Robinson tells Memorial Day crowd of ultimate sacrifices

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Willaim A. “Bill” Robinson’s experience with the Vietnam War was up close and personal, leaving him with vivid memories. He shared some of those memories during the annual Memorial Day service at the Veterans Memorial Park in Blue Ridge.
The author, Preston Patterson, is shown with his subject, Sally Masters, right, and Swan McKnight, another board member of Fannin Foster Families.

The author, Preston Patterson, is shown with his subject, Sally Masters, right, and Swan McKnight, another board member of Fannin Foster Families.

Sally Masters wants children to have homes

News Staff
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
By Preston Patterson “I recall two of my mother’s brothers and one of my cousins living with us as young adults...this was formative for me as it literally brought home the idea of helping others get started somewhere new even if it involved housing and feeding them.
Cayley Hamilton is shown, at the Book Dropoff 2023, unboxing the books for the Feed and Read Fannin event.

Cayley Hamilton is shown, at the Book Dropoff 2023, unboxing the books for the Feed and Read Fannin event.

Snack in a Backpack children receive books for summer reading

News Staff
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Feed & Read Fannin has delivered summer books to Snack in a Backpack children for the third year. A total of 323 of these Fannin County children recently went home with a new book to read over summer break thanks to two local nonprofits, Feed & Read Fannin and Snack in a Backpack.
McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley, lefrt, and Officer Hayden Smith of the Motor Carrier Compliance Division inspect an Atomic Transport 18-wheeler after it was stopped last week.

McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley, lefrt, and Officer Hayden Smith of the Motor Carrier Compliance Division inspect an Atomic Transport 18-wheeler after it was stopped last week.

Concern arises over trucks’ weights, smell

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
The smell was not the reason for stopping an Atomic Transport truck, but once the sickening odor was detected a new level of concern arose.
These Fannin County Middle School students, along with their teachers and assistant principal, released rainbow trout into the Toccoa River just before the end of school. Shown are, from left, front, Jacquelyn Cline, Kendrick Pack, Zane Perkins, Alex Ware, Alex Barber, Jayden Collins, Cash Ades, Corey O’Quinn, and Stewie Gustin; and, back, Exploratory teachers Tori Arp and Althea Gobble and Assistant Principal Matt Rosenberger.

These Fannin County Middle School students, along with their teachers and assistant principal, released rainbow trout into the Toccoa River just before the end of school. Shown are, from left, front, Jacquelyn Cline, Kendrick Pack, Zane Perkins, Alex Ware, Alex Barber, Jayden Collins, Cash Ades, Corey O’Quinn, and Stewie Gustin; and, back, Exploratory teachers Tori Arp and Althea Gobble and Assistant Principal Matt Rosenberger.

FCMS students stock trout as part of stream project

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
A group of Fannin County Middle School (FCMS) students completed another step in the school’s long range project to restore the habitats and streams of Mineral Springs and Weaver creeks.
The orange water is the ground water/mine water at the head of the Copperhill Industries area. Buddy Haynes explains that is the color before the water is treated with biosolids through a series of ponds. At this stage it is about a pH2. Once treated, it turns green, as is seen above, and the pH level reaches 6 to 8, which is capable of sustaining aquatic life.

The orange water is the ground water/mine water at the head of the Copperhill Industries area. Buddy Haynes explains that is the color before the water is treated with biosolids through a series of ponds. At this stage it is about a pH2. Once treated, it turns green, as is seen above, and the pH level reaches 6 to 8, which is capable of sustaining aquatic life.

Haynes defends biosolids, points to successful effort

Glenn Harbison
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Copperhill Industries owner Buddy Haynes is adamant he has nothing to hide as he takes part in a pilot project involving biosolids. Meanwhile, a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) official spoke directly to odor concerns recently raised by Polk County citizens.